CAMBRIDGE — At a community conversation on civil rights issues April 8, representatives from the United States Department of Justice made it clear that this conversation would be the first of many.
“This won’t be the first and last time that you see us here because we’re serious about showing up,” United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron said. “We’re serious about representing you, hearing from you.”
Community members gathered at the Harriet Tubman Center for Cultural and Educational Advancement April 8 to hear from Barron and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke and ask questions.
Clarke spoke about some of the Justice Department’s highest priorities, including fighting hate crimes, holding law enforcement accountable, ensuring equal education opportunities, protecting the right to vote and combatting redlining.
Barron talked about how civil rights laws can be enforced.
“First, you’ve got to put your money where your mouth is,” he said.
Barron said that is the reason why he established the Civil Rights and Special Victims Section of the District of Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.
He said that for civil rights laws to be enforced, the department also needs to show up and establish a partnership with the community.
“That’s why we’re here,” he said.
Clarke said there was more she could speak about regarding the efforts of the department.
“But we want to hear from you today,” she said. “The purpose of this convening is to make sure that we are hearing from and learning from people in this community to ensure that the resources of the Justice Department are put to work to address the most complex and challenging problems that you face here in this community.”
During the discussion, Rev. James Jones, convener of the Caucus of African American Leaders on the Eastern Shore, said people of color receive lengthier and more serious sentences locally and nationwide.
Barron said he is very attuned to this issue. Last year it was pointed out to him that the U.S. Attorney’s Office doesn’t seem to be prosecuting as many people.
“I said, ‘That’s correct because we can do it smartly,’” Barron said. “’We can enforce the laws and make our state, make our cities safer without just locking everyone up if we do it with policies that are efficient and smart.’”
Lareese Cathey-Jackson, founder of the nonprofit Angels At A Distance — a prevention program for local youth — asked how programs like hers can get more funding and resources.
Clarke said last week, the attorney general announced several new initiatives that would bring support to different communities in the nation.
“We’re happy to help facilitate and make those connections,” Clarke said.
After the conversation, Cathey-Jackson said these conversations need to continue and need to be consistent. She said she has been to meetings like this before where those statements just seemed like talk, but she has hope that this one is different.
“I don’t feel like that coming into this meeting,” she said. “I really do feel like they want to move forward.”
Alex Green, co-owner of the Harriet Tubman Center for Cultural and Educational Advancement, said it was an honor to host the event in partnership with the Civil Rights Division and the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office. He said it was great to bring people together for a conversation.
“I think it’s really essential in today’s climate that we have conversations about the things we don’t understand,” he said. “Because if we don’t talk about them, ... We stay in our own little box, and we never come to a consensus or agreement on what we don’t understand.”
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