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♪♪ >>> HI, EVERYBODY, WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," I'M JOANNA GAGIS IN FOR DAVID CRUZ.

LATER ON IN THE SHOW, I'LL BE JOINED BY RYAN HAY GOOD, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE TO TALK ABOUT JUNETEENTH COMING UP THIS WEEKEND AND WHERE THE STATE AND NATION STAND ON THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

BUT FIRST WE BEGIN WITH DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTTHEIMER FROM NEW JERSEY'S FIFTH DISTRICT.

CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> AFFORDABILITY HAS REALLY BEEN A BIG PART OF YOUR AGENDA.

YOU'VE SIGNED ON TO A PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT WOULD TACKLE THE RISING FOOD AND FUEL COSTS THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT NOW.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT SOME OF THOSE BILLS WOULD DO?

>> SURE, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU SAID THE KEYWORD THERE.

IT'S FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY.

I HAVE AN AGENDA, AFFORDABILITY AGENDA FOR JERSEY THAT'S HAD MULTIPLE PARTS FOR MONTHS NOW WHERE WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE GAS PRICES, GROCERY PRICES, PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES, ANYTHING WE CAN DO, LOWER TAXES, WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES RIGHT NOW.

THIS WEEK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, WE VOTED AND PASSED LEGISLATION THAT DEALS WITH WHAT'S A GROWING PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTRY, WHICH IS MEAT PRICES AND POULTRY PRICES AND THE COLLUSION THAT'S GOING ON IN THE MARKET THAT CONTINUES TO BE INVESTIGATED.

IN FACT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THE TOP FOUR MEAT PRODUCERS IN THE COUNTRY CONTROL MORE THAN 80% OF THE MARKETPLACE.

AND THERE'S BEEN REPORTS AND PROSECUTION OF COLLUSION AMONG THEM AND THE KEY IS GIVING THE USDA AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MORE TOOLS TO GO AFTER THOSE WHO ARE MONOPOLISTS.

>> I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

ARE WE PAYING MORE BECAUSE THESE COMPANIES ARE SETTING UNREASONABLY HIGH PRICES JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN?

>> THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE.

AND THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF SETTLEMENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

IN FACT, ONE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO ON EXACTLY THAT ISSUE.

PRICES OF MEAT ARE UP MORE THAN 300% SINCE COVID STARTED.

AND GUESS WHO'S NOT GETTING PAID MORE FOR THE BEEF?

THE CATTLE PRODUCERS.

THE CATTLEMEN, CATTLEWOMEN, THEY'RE NOT GETTING PAID MORE FOR THE BEEF.

WHEN IT GOES TO THE PROCESSORS, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE MASSIVELY JACKING UP THE PRICE, AND IT APPEARS THAT THEY'RE COLLUDING.

THE KEY IS WE NEED TO GIVE MORE TOOLS TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO BE ABLE TO GO AFTER THOSE COLLUDERS AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE FOCUSED ON THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OTHER STEPS WE'RE TAKING TO HELP GET GAS AND OIL PRICES DOWN AS WELL AS MAKE SURE THAT WE GET SUPPLY CHAIN MOVING, WHICH IS ANOTHER BIG ISSUE, AS YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IN THE COVID ECONOMY OF A LOT OF BACKUPS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN, WHICH ARE ALSO PUSHING PRICES UP.

>> LET'S TACKLE THOSE ONE AT A TIME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING RIGHT NOW TO LOWER FUEL COSTS?

I MEAN, THEY'RE HURTING EVERYONE RIGHT NOW.

>> YOU KNOW, WE NEED, AND I SAID THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I STRESSED IT AGAIN THIS WEEK, WE NEED AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH TO ENERGY, IN MY OPINION.

THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO THINK LONGER TERM ON CLIMATE AND MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES UP.

BUT IN THE SHORT RUN, WE'VE GOT TO GET CAPACITY UP AND PARTICULARLY DOMESTIC CAPACITY.

THERE IS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 9,000 PERMITS OUTSTANDING RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES.

I HAVE ENCOURAGED THE PRESIDENT AND THE WHITE HOUSE TO GET THE OIL AND GAS PRODUCERS AT THE TABLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND TALK TO THEM AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO ACTUALLY GET THAT MOVING, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT GETTING CAPACITY UP DOMESTICALLY AND AS YOU KNOW, IT'S A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE SO THE MORE CAPACITY YOU HAVE, PRICES WILL COME DOWN.

SO, THE WORST SOLUTION FOR ME WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY LOOK TO, OBVIOUSLY, WE FOUGHT RUSSIA TO GET THEM OFF AS A PRODUCER RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE HORRIFIC SITUATION IN UKRAINE, BUT TURNING TO COMMUNIST AND SOCIALIST VENEZUELA AND TERRORIST IRAN FOR OUR ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES FOR OIL AND GAS IS NOT A GOOD SOLUTION.

WE SHOULD LOOK AT OUR -- TO OUR DOMESTIC PRODUCERS AND GET THAT PRODUCTION UP.

>> SO, CONGRESSMAN JEFF VAN DREW IN NEW JERSEY'S SECOND DISTRICT SAID THESE RISING COSTS ARE THE FAULT OF THE PRESIDENT.

DO YOU HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THE PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT YOU VOTED ON TODAY?

>> AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, I CO-CHAIR SOMETHING CALLED THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS, A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF 58 OF US, AND WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON AN ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY APPROACH INCLUDING LEGISLATION.

THE LEGISLATION THAT JUST PASSED THE HOUSE DEALING WITH THE AGRICULTURE ISSUES AND STEPS TO GET OIL PRICES DOWN WAS ALSO BIPARTISAN.

SO THIS IS ABOUT US WORKING TOGETHER.

I'M NOT BIG ON THE, EVERYONE POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, THERE'S PLENTY OF FINGER POINTING TO GO FROM PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS.

I'M FOCUSED ON WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR FAMILIES RIGHT NOW?

THAT'S WHY YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF US DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

WE'VE BEEN SITTING DOWN AND SAYING, WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET GAS PRICES DOWN, GROCERY PRICES DOWN, GET PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES DOWN, MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FOLKS AND OBVIOUSLY IN JERSEY I'M FOCUSED ON GETTING PROPERTY TAXES DOWN BY RESTORING THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTION.

>> THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION.

BUT COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO GET THROUGH.

THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS ARE ONGOING.

HOW EFFECTIVE DO YOU BELIEVE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN AT TYING WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th TO THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS LEADING UP TO IT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I HAVE FOUND FROM THE HEARINGS SO FAR IS THAT WE'RE TAKING STEPS TO ACTUALLY HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STOP AN ATTACK -- ANOTHER ATTACK ON OUR CAPITOL, ON OUR DEMOCRACY, AND TO HOLD THESE VIOLENT EXTREMISTS, THESE RADICALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th.

TO ME, I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, WE'RE ALL AMERICANS, AND NO AMERICAN SHOULD EVER WANT TO SEE THE BEACON OF DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD, OUR CAPITOL, ATTACKED.

I WAS OBVIOUSLY THERE, AND I WAS IN THE GALLERY ON THE FLOOR, FEET AWAY FROM WHERE SHOTS WERE FIRED AND PEOPLE BANGING ON THE DOOR AND TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

I'LL TELL YOU, AND I WAS -- AND I STOOD WITH MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE THAT NIGHT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND WE TALKED TOGETHER ABOUT ALWAYS PUTTING OUR COUNTRY FIRST AND PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY AND LAWLESS THUGS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING AMONG YOUR GOP COUNTERPARTS TO SAY, LIKE, MAYBE WE SHOULD BE BUYING INTO THIS?

MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING HERE?

OR IS THERE STILL A MAJOR DIVIDE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ON THIS ISSUE?

>> WELL, I MEAN, CERTAINLY, YOU'VE GOT SOME FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE NEVER REALLY GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FACTS HERE.

BUT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES, FRANKLY, INCLUDING THOSE WHO VOTED TO -- VOTED AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO STOOD UP TO IT AFTER THEY SAW WHAT HAPPENED, INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN TOM RICE THIS WEEK, WHO LOST HIS SEAT IN HIS PRIMARY BECAUSE HE STOOD UP AFTER JANUARY 6th, AND SAID THAT WAS AN ATTACK ON OUR DEMOCRACY, AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR SIDE AND SOMETHING IN THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OVERWHELMING VOICE THAT I HEAR FROM THE COGS THAT I WORK WITH EVERY DAY WAS THIS WAS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY AND PARTISANSHIP SHOULD NOT BE PLAYED INTO THIS AT ALL.

>> THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, THOUGH, IS SPLIT RIGHT NOW ON WHETHER OR NOT CRIMINAL CHARGES SHOULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT ISSUE?

>> YOU KNOW, I REALLY -- I THINK WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS SPLIT ON, AND WHAT I HEARD IS JUST DIFFERENCES OF WHAT ACTUALLY THEY'RE SENDING TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE COMMITTEE AND DO THEIR WORK AND HOW WHEN THEY ISSUE THEIR REPORT, HOW REFERRALS ARE MADE TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, CONGRESSWOMAN CHENEY, AS YOU HEARD WHAT SHE SAID, STRONGLY THIS WEEK, THAT SHE THINKS THE REFERRAL SHOULD BE MADE.

AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I REALLY RESPECT THE WORK SHE'S BEEN DOING ON THE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE CHAIRMAN.

SO, I THINK THEY'RE DOING -- THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR MONTHS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FACTS.

AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND I TRUST THOSE THEY'LL DO THE RIGHT THING.

>> JUST ABOUT A WEEK AGO, WE SAW A HISTORIC AGREEMENT BY A GROUP OF BIPARTISAN SENATORS WHO AGREED AT LEAST EARLY ON, ON A PACKAGE OF GUN REFORM BILLS.

SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD AHEAD FOR THAT AGREEMENT, BUT TALK TO ME ABOUT WHERE YOU THINK THE HOUSE WOULD STAND, IF, AS THESE KIND OF BULLET POINTS ARE OUTLINED RIGHT NOW, IF THEY MADE IT TO THE HOUSE.

>> SENATOR SINEMA AND SENATOR CORNYN MET WITH THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS THIS MORNING.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT THAT BILL AND HOW I'M BUILDING SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSE.

I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT THAT DEAL WILL GET DONE IN THE SENATE.

IT'S NOT EVERYTHING EVERYONE WANTS, YOU KNOW?

THERE WILL BE MORE WORK TO DO.

BUT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I BELIEVE IT WILL SAVE LIVES.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT HERE.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WILL GET STRONG SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS MAKING SURE IT'S BIPARTISAN WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSE AND IT HAS STRONG SUPPORT FROM BOTH SIDES, AND I BELIEVE IT WILL.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE ACTION ON RED FLAGS, ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ON SCHOOL SAFETY, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR CHILDREN.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THIS AGREEMENT, IF IT'S WRITTEN, IF IT'S PASSED, MOVES THE GOAL POST IN A SENSE?

IN OTHER WORDS, TELLS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO PASS BIPARTISAN, COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY LAWS WITHOUT INFRINGING ON SOMEONE'S SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS THAT, FIRST, TO YOUR POINT, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SHOW THAT THESE THINGS CAN BE DONE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, AND THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY ACT.

AND TAKE STEPS.

I MEAN, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED AND YOU HAVE HAD 250 MASS SHOOTINGS ALREADY THIS YEAR.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE COME UP TO ME, BY THE WAY, FROM BOTH PARTIES, AND SAY, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY THAT THIS -- NO OTHER COUNTRY'S GRAPPLING WITH WHAT WE ARE HERE?

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS?

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES THAT WE TAKE ACTION HERE.

AND BY THE WAY, WE ALSO SAY TO THEM, HEY, YOU CAN STILL -- NOTHING HERE IS GOING TO STOP YOU FROM HUNTING.

NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP YOU FROM PROTECTING YOURSELF.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, NO CIVILIAN NEEDS A WEAPON THAT WAS MADE FOR WAR.

YOU DON'T NEED AN AR-15 TO GO HUNT A DEER.

SO, I'VE BEEN -- AND THIS LEGISLATION IS GOING TO ACTUALLY TAKE STEPS TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SCHOOL SAFETY AND PROTECT PEOPLE AND GET MORE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AT RECORDS FROM JUVENILES AND TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES HERE, AND RED FLAG ISSUES.

SO I THINK THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT MOST AMERICANS CAN AGREE WITH AND SAY, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND NOT INFRINGE ON THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO.

>> JUST VERY QUICKLY, LAST WEEK, THERE WAS AN ATTEMPTED MURDER ON SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BRETT KAVANAUGH.

A BILL WAS PUT FORWARD THAT YOU VOTED AGAINST THAT WOULD INCREASE PROTECTIONS FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

WHY DID YOU VOTE AGAINST THAT BILL?

>> WELL, FIRST, OF COURSE, I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, INCLUDING PROVIDING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES EXTRA SECURITY.

A GROUP OF US IN THE HOUSE WERE WORKING WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ, SENATOR BOOKER AND OTHERS ON LEGISLATION WHICH WAS BLOCKED BY ONE SENATOR, RAND PAUL, THAT WOULD HAVE PROTECTED ALL FEDERAL JUDGES, AND AS YOU KNOW, IN 2020, JUDGE SALAS'S FAMILY, WAS DEVASTATING, YOU HAD HER SON SHOT AND KILLED BY A -- SOMEONE WHO WAS IN THE COURT AND CAME TO HER HOUSE, LOOKED HER ADDRESS UP, AND POSING AS A FedEx DELIVERY MAN SHOT HER AND KILLED HER SON AND SHOT HER HUSBAND, AND WHAT WE BELIEVED WAS IT IS OUTRAGEOUS NOT TO HAVE PROTECTIONS FOR ALL FEDERAL JUDGES, INCLUDING OUR JUDGES IN JERSEY AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO JUDGE SALAS AND HER FAMILY.

AND SO, WE FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT AND ONE SENATOR, ONE RIGHT-WING SENATOR, DECIDED TO BLOCK THE WHOLE THING FROM BEING INCLUDED.

EVERYONE ELSE AGREED WITH IT.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS.

NOW ACTUALLY SENATOR MENENDEZ IS WORKING TO GET THAT PIECE PUT BACK INTO THE PACKAGE, AND I THINK OUR ACTIONS STANDING UP TO IT, I THINK, HELPED SPUR THAT.

IN JERSEY, IT'S -- GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT JUDGE, AND BY THE WAY, 4,500 THREATS AGAINST JUDGES IN THE LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, AROUND THE COUNTRY.

YOU CAN'T HAVE OUR FEDERAL JUDGES BEING THREATENED FOR THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.

>> CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTTHEIMER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOUR INSIGHT, APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED BY A POLICE OFFICER IN THE MIDDLE OF A MINNEAPOLIS STREET.

THERE WAS INSTANT REACTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT IT SEEMS TWO YEARS LATER, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ACTION WHEN IT COMES TO MEANINGFUL REFORM.

I'M JOINED NOW BY RYAN HAYGOOD, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

RYAN, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> LET'S START WITH A PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT WAS REALLY MEANT TO CREATE MORE OVERSIGHT OF NEW JERSEY'S POLICE FORCE CALLED THE POLICE REFORM ACT.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT SOME OF THE GOALS OF THAT PACKAGE OF BILLS ARE?

>> SURE.

SO, LOVE THE QUESTION.

I THINK A LOT ABOUT THIS MOMENT.

YOU MENTIONED THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD TWO YEARS AGO.

IT WAS A KILLING THAT WE ALL WATCHED IN HORROR ON TELEVISION HERE IN NEW JERSEY, AND IT WAS HIS KILLING THAT REALLY SPARKED A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT TO FINALLY BEGIN TO BUILD INTO THE PROFESSION OF POLICING SOME MEASURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND YOU SAW THIS HAPPEN IN STATES LIKE COLORADO, WHICH INSTANTLY PASSED BILLS INCLUDING BILLS AROUND QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, BANNING CHOKEHOLDS.

WE JOINED WITH PARTNERS SEEKING TO DO THE SAME THING HERE IN NEW JERSEY, TO BUILD INTO THE PROFESSION OF POLICING A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO REDUCE THE HARM VISITED UPON, TOO OFTEN, BLACK AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS, AND THOUGH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS WERE GUIDED IN THE INTRODUCTION OF THOSE BILLS, THEY HAVEN'T MOVED.

IN FACT, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE ONLY BILL AROUND POLICING THAT PASSED WAS A BILL THAT RESTRICTED POLICE OFFICERS' ABILITY TO ENTER POLLING PLACES, AND SO IT SPEAKS, I THINK, THE LAST TWO YEARS TAUGHT US THAT OUR COLLECTIVE ADVOCACY CAN MOVE US TO THINGS LIKE SYMBOLISM.

SO YOU SAW, FOR EXAMPLE, THINGS LIKE BLACK LIVES MATTER BEING PAINTED ON STREETS.

YOU SAW STATUES COMING DOWN.

YOU SAW PROFESSIONS OF THE UNDENIABLE TRUTH THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER BEING ARTICULATED.

YOU SAW SYMBOLISM HAPPENING, BUT WE HAVEN'T YET GOTTEN TO THE PLACE WHERE WE SEE SUBSTANCE UNDERLYING THAT SYMBOLISM.

>> I WANT TO TALK SUBSTANCE OF SOME OF THESE BILLS A BIT.

SOME OF THEM WOULD LIMIT WHEN POLICE CAN USE FORCE.

>> SURE.

>> CREATE OVERSIGHT WHERE INFORMATION ABOUT OFFICERS WHO DO USE FORCE WOULD BE PUBLISHED.

IT WOULD ALLOW SOME MUNICIPALITIES TO CREATE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS, SOMETHING THAT'S EXISTED IN NEWARK FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW UNDER FEDERAL MONITOR THERE.

BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WILL TO CREATE SYMBOLISM, IS IT THAT THERE'S A LACK OF POLITICAL WILL TO GET ANY OF THESE THINGS FORWARD, TO PUSH ANY OF THESE THINGS FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK AT THIS TIME, THE REASON THOSE BILLS HAVEN'T MOVED IS BECAUSE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS COLLECTIVELY HAVEN'T HAD THE COURAGE AND POLITICAL WILL TO ADVANCE THEM.

I THINK WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT POLICING AS A PROFESSION IS THAT IT'S ONE OF THE VERY FEW PROFESSIONS THAT LACKS ACCOUNTABILITY, LARGELY OVERALL.

I'M AN ATTORNEY.

YOU'RE A JOURNALIST.

THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS THAT GUIDE OUR WORK.

IF OUR CONDUCT FALLS BENEATH THE PROFESSIONAL THRESHOLD, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.

I COULD LOSE MY LICENSE TO PRACTICE.

YOU COULD LOSE YOUR ABILITY TO DO JOURNALISM.

POLICING SHOULD NOT BE EXEMPT FROM HAVING THOSE KINDS OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT IT'S ONE OF THE RARE PROFESSIONS THAT ALLOWS FOR THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE IN APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND SO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY SPOKE VERY LOUDLY WHEN THEY CHAMPIONED A COLLECTIVE PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT WOULD FINALLY BEGIN HERE IN NEW JERSEY TO BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THE SYSTEM OF POLICING.

BUT WHAT I THINK -- I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS REALLY LESS ON THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MORE ON THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE MINDFUL OF WHERE THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE, AND SO I THINK THE LAST TWO YEARS TAUGHT US THAT WE CAN LIFT OUR COLLECTIVE VOICES TO GET TO THE PLACE OF SYMBOLISM, BUT I THINK WHAT'S REQUIRED RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY AS I THINK ABOUT JUNETEENTH COMING UP, IS THAT WE -- AS WE COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH, WHICH IS A SYMBOLISM OF FREEDOM, THAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY HAVE TO LIFT OUR VOICES EVEN MORE IN ORDER TO MOVE BEYOND THE SYMBOLISM TO DO THINGS LIKE FINALLY BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY INTO THE POLICING PROFESSION.

AND HERE'S THE THING.

POLICE OFFICERS OVERWHELMINGLY, WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY IN THEIR PROFESSION.

IT'S ON US AS THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY TO ADVOCATE FOR IT, TO GET OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THAT PROFESSION.

>> AND I JUST WANT TO BROADEN THAT A BIT.

IF IT'S TOUGH TO GET THAT PASSED HERE IN NEW JERSEY, NATIONALLY, IT'S EVEN A GREATER CHALLENGE.

BUT PRESIDENT BIDEN RECENTLY DID SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WOULD CREATE SOME ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT FOR POLICE, INCLUDING A DATABASE WHERE INFORMATION WOULD BE PUBLICLY SHARED ABOUT SOME OF THESE POLICE OFFICERS WHO VIOLATED CODES OF CONDUCT.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS A STRATEGY LIKE THAT IF IT'S DONE BY EXECUTIVE ORDER AND NOT THROUGH CONGRESS?

>> YES, AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IS GOOD.

IT IS FOR AS LONG AS THE PERSON IS IN OFFICE.

THE BEAUTY OF IT IS THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

A LEGISLATURE MAKES THOSE LAWS PERMANENT OR THOSE ACTIONS PERMANENT.

THE GOVERNOR HERE IN NEW JERSEY, GOVERNOR MURPHY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAVE A LOT OF POWER TO DO WORK AROUND BUILDING IN ACCOUNTABILITY TO POLICING.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE ALSO HAS TO ACT.

AND I DO THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE PRECIOUS OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT ABOUT COURAGEOUS LEGISLATORS LIKE EVEN THE MOST PROGRESSIVE-MINDED LEGISLATORS ARE VERY OFTEN UNFORTUNATELY KEEPERS OF THE STATUS QUO.

AND IT'S REALLY ON US AS THE PEOPLE TO HOLD ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE, EVEN THE MOST PROGRESSIVE-SOUNDING ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO BE PUSHED TO PLACES OF ACCOUNTABILITY BY US, THE CONSTITUENTS, BY THE VOTERS, AND SO I THINK THIS IS A MOMENT FOR US TO LIFT OUR VOICES COLLECTIVELY, TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, NOT JUST IN THE SYSTEM OF POLICING IN NEW JERSEY, BUT IN THE BROADER CHALLENGE.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A STATE OF INCREDIBLE PROSPERITY.

WE'RE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY, AND YET WE HAVE SOME OF THE POOREST CITIES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

TOO OFTEN, DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN.

AND THOSE ARE POLICY CHOICES, SO THE ADVOCACY AROUND JUNETEENTH AND MORE BROADLY AROUND FREEDOM IS TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE LIFT OUR VOICES COLLECTIVELY, YES, TO BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY IN POLICING BUT ALSO HOW DO WE END OUR ENTRENCHED RESIDENTIAL AND SCHOOL SEGREGATION?

HOW DO WE CONNECT PEOPLE OF COLOR TO PUBLIC HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES?

CONNECT THEM TO SYSTEMS THAT BUILD WEALTH?

>> AND RYAN -- >> THAT'S BROADER CONVERSATION.

>> TO THAT END, NEW JERSEY HAS THIS REPARATIONS TASK FORCE.

I WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND FROM YOU WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW ON THAT TASK FORCE, WHAT IS IT MEANT TO DO?

WHAT SHOULD IT BE DOING?

>> I LOVE THE QUESTION.

SO, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT NEW JERSEY CELEBRATED JUNETEENTH AS A STATE HOLIDAY.

AND I THINK THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENT IN TERMS OF RECOGNIZING WHAT JUNETEENTH, WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT IT HAS MEANT.

AND AS YOU KNOW, JUNETEENTH IS THE DAY, JUNE 19th, BACK IN 1865, WHEN GENERAL GORDON GRANGER RODE INTO GALVESTON, TEXAS, AND HE SHARED WITH 250,000 ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE FREE.

AND SO, AN ASPECT OF JUNETEENTH IS AROUND CELEBRATING FREEDOM.

BUT ANOTHER ASPECT OF JUNETEENTH IS THAT WHEN GENERAL GORDON GRANGER RODE INTO GALVESTON, TEXAS, AND TOLD THOSE FORMERLY ENSLAVED BLACK PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE FREE, THAT ANNOUNCEMENT OF FREEDOM CAME TWO AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THEY HAD TECHNICALLY BEEN FREED BY THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION SO WHILE JUNETEENTH IS A COMMEMORATION OF FREEDOM, IT'S A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM, IT'S ALSO A VERY SPECIFIC AND PRECISE REMINDER THAT THE STRUGGLE TO REALLY APPRECIATE, TO LEAN INTO, TO BENEFIT FROM FREEDOM IS AN ONGOING FIGHT, AND OURS IN NEW JERSEY IS A PLACE THAT AS A COLONY HAD SLAVERY TOOK ROOT VERY, VERY DEEPLY.

YOU KNOW, OURS WAS A STATE, WHEN IT WAS A COLONY, WHEN IT WAS FORMED AS A COLONY, THAT INCENTIVIZED SLAVERY.

WE GAVE EACH ENGLISH WHITE SETTLING FAMILY 150 ACRES OF LAND, AND WE GAVE THOSE SAME ENGLISH WHITE SETTLING FAMILIES AN ADDITIONAL 150 ACRES OF LAND FOR EACH ENSLAVED BLACK PERSON WHO WORKED ON THAT LAND.

IT WAS AT OUR FOUNDING AS A COLONY THAT WE CREATED TODAY'S RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

IT WAS CONCEIVED OF.

IT WAS BIRTHED IN SLAVERY IN THIS STATE.

THAT HISTORY IS IMPORTANT.

TOO MANY FOLKS, I THINK, IN OUR STATE DON'T KNOW THAT HISTORY.

IF YOU POLL PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY, SOMEWHERE ON THE STREET, ASK THEM, DID SLAVERY HAPPEN IN NEW JERSEY?

TOO OFTEN, THEY SAY, NO.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BEACON FOR DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT HISTORY, THAT ACCURATE TELLING OF HISTORY, IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE TODAY, IN 2022, WE LIVE WITH THE VESTIGES OF, WE LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF SLAVERY.

THAT LEGACY ENDURES TO THE PRESENT, INCLUDING AROUND THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD AROUND POLICING, BUT IT'S ALSO WHAT ANIMATES OUR STAGGERING RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

IT ALSO HAS BUILT IN A SYSTEM OF DEEP, DEEP SEGREGATION LIVED OUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CLASSROOMS.

>> SO, RYAN -- >> UNTIL WE TELL THE ACCURATE STORY, WE CANNOT BEGIN TO CONFRONT TODAY'S DIFFICULT REALITY AROUND STRUCTURAL RACISM.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JUST EXPLAINING THAT AND LAYING THAT OUT SO CLEARLY.

WITH JUST THE FEW MINUTES THAT WE HAVE LEFT, HOW WOULD REPARATIONS -- HOW SHOULD REPARATIONS START TO CLOSE THOSE WEALTH DISPARITIES THAT HAVE EXISTED NOW FOR GENERATIONS?

>> YES, SO, WE CHAMPION WITH A NUMBER OF COURAGEOUS PARTNERS, LEGISLATORS A CAMPAIGN CALLED SAY THE WORD, REPARATIONS.

THIS WOULD CREATE A NEW JERSEY REPARATIONS COMMISSION THAT WOULD DO PRINCIPALLY TWO THINGS, ONE, THE COMMISSION WOULD STUDY THE ROLE OF SLAVERY IN NEW JERSEY AND ITS ENDURING CONSEQUENCES.

AND THE COMMISSION WOULD MAKE KEY POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THE KINDS OF SYSTEMS WE OUGHT TO BUILD TO FILL IN THOSE CRACKS OF STRUCTURAL RACISM ON OUR FOUNDATION AND IT WOULD ALSO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND THE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE TO EMPOWER THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH THOSE POLICIES.

WE CANNOT, I THINK, DO HONOR TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED LIKE GEORGE FLOYD.

WE CAN'T DO HONOR TO COMMUNITIES SUFFERING UNDER THE KIND OF POLICY VIOLENCE WE HAVE IN NEW JERSEY UNTIL WE HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT SLAVERY AND ITS ENDURING IMPACT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION REQUIRES US TO DO, AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION IN NEW JERSEY WITH THE REAL OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN RESPONDING TO THIS CURRENT MOMENT.

>> AND JUST QUICKLY, TELL US ABOUT THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION HERE IN NEWARK THIS WEEKEND.

>> SO, WE'RE JOINING WITH MORE THAN 50 ORGANIZATIONS, THE PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS, UNITED BLACK AGENDA, THE NEW JERSEY ACLU, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, URBAN LEAGUE, A HOST OF ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST A MARCH AND RALLY.

WE'RE STARTING AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL AT NOON.

HERE IN NEWARK, WE WILL HAVE A RALLY AND MARCH TO CITY HALL.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE CHAMPIONS OF THE BILL, LEADING RACIAL JUSTICE VOICES, SENATOR CORY BOOKER, CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE, A HOST OF VOICES ALL UNITED AROUND THE IDEA THAT WE CAN, IN NEW JERSEY, CREATE A REAL BEACON FOR DEMOCRACY.

WE CAN CREATE A REPARATIONS TASK FORCE.

WE CAN ADVANCE DEMOCRACY THROUGH SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION.

WE CAN TRANSFORM JUSTICE THROUGH ACCOUNTABILITY IN POLICING AND CLOSING OUR RACIALIZED YOUTH PRISONS AND REINVESTING BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

ALL THAT IS POSSIBLE HERE AS WE LIFT OUR COLLECTIVE VOICES TO MAKE IT REAL.

>> RYAN, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR MAKING THIS SO TANGIBLE AND DIGESTIBLE FOR OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS ALSO TO CONGRESSMAN JOSH GOTTHEIMER FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

TWO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.

AND THANKS TO YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US AS WELL.

BEFORE I LET YOU GO, JUST A REMINDER, BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL, AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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