ERASE RACISM'S NEWSLETTER ABOUT RESEARCH, TRENDS, AND OUR WORK
EMERGE

March 2014
In This Issue
President's Message
Annual Benefit Reception
Youth Event
Fraternity Hosts Event for ERASE Racism
In Other News
Donate
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Annual Youth Roundtable Event with Frederick Brewington
March 31, 2014
2014 Annual Benefit
June 4, 2014
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Phone: (516)-921-4863
Fax: (516)-921-4866
President's Message
Elaine Headshot

 

Continuing with the theme of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, ERASE Racism is excited to announce that our 2014 Annual Youth Roundtable Event will feature Frederick Brewington as our keynote speaker.   Fred is one of the most well-known civil rights lawyers in New York and his important work ranges from using litigation to bring about more affordable housing and community revitalization efforts on Long Island to taking on civil rights cases to fight employment discrimination.  He has successfully challenged the 'at large' voting system in the Town of Hempstead and worked on preventing future unconstitutional and discriminatory purging of voters from the voting role.  At our Youth Roundtable Event on March 31st, Fred will speak to a group of Long Island students about how the fight for civil rights has changed since the passage of the Civil Rights Act, and why the continued pursuit of civil rights is so necessary today.  To register for the event see the article below.

 

The "In Other News"  section of this newsletter briefly mentions two important examples of current civil rights advocacy.  The first story is about a major lawsuit that claimed that the NYC Fire Department's hiring practices were discriminatory, which ended with a settlement agreement between the parties.  New efforts are now being made to ensure that people of color will be given equal opportunities for employment by the NYC Fire Department.  The second story highlights one way that civil rights continue to be weakened and makes the case for why it is so important that we are steadfast in our advocacy for access to the judicial system and legal representation for victims of discrimination.

 

This month's newsletter also includes details about our 2014 Annual Benefit, which will be held on June 4, 2014.  We hope you will attend and join us in honoring three civil rights organizations that are on the front lines of the fight for racial justice.  There is also an article about a recent fundraiser hosted by Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity to raise awareness about racial discrimination and donate to ERASE Racism in support of our work to create racial equity. 

 
Warm regards,
 
 
 

 

 

Elaine Gross

President

AnnualbenefitERASE Racism's Annual Benefit

June 4, 2014

At the Garden City Hotel

 

Honoring:

The Anti-Discrimination Center

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law 

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund

 

Presenting the Corporate Leadership Award to:

The Bluestone Organization

Henry Schein, Inc.

 

ERASE Racism is proud to announce its Annual Benefit Reception on June 4, 2014 at The Garden City Hotel, celebrating the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 
  

The Anti-Discrimination Center, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. are each 2014 Abraham Krasnoff Courage and Commitment Award Honorees for their outstanding advocacy in advancing civil rights and the rule of the law.

 

The Bluestone Organization will receive ERASE Racism's Corporate Leadership Award for increasing affordable housing on Long Island. Henry Schein, Inc. will receive ERASE Racism's Corporate Leadership Award for its commitment to the under-served through access to health care and opportunity.

 

"This landmark law deserves recognition, but we understand that a landmark law is only effective if groups like our three honorees are ever diligent in their efforts to ensure that the law is enforced. We are grateful for the work of each of these stellar organizations" says Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism.

 

youthroundtableAnnual Youth Roundtable Event
With Frederick K. Brewington
March 31, 2014   4:30-6PM
 
Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin was finally made illegal only 50 years ago with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The fight for civil rights has come a long way since then, but it's far from over. On March 31st, prominent civil rights attorney Frederick Brewington will talk to Long Island students about his work in trying to end racial discrimination and the role of civil rights today.
 
For the past several years, ERASE Racism's Youth Roundtable Event has given Long Island high school students the rare opportunity to meet some of the most prominent leaders in the fight for racial justice of our time. Past speakers have included Ambassador Andrew Young, former United States Congressman and leader in the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, pioneer for racial equity as a Tuskegee Airman and renowned educator, and Kenneth I. Chenault, one of today's top business leaders who has broken racial barriers as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express. 
 
This year we are honored that a Long Island native, Mr. Frederick K. Brewington will be our 2014 Youth Roundtable speaker. High school and college students are welcome to attend this free event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Where: 
Plainview-Old Bethpage High School, 50 Kennedy Dr., Plainview, NY 11803 

 

RSVP: all students and adults must register on the event page. 

 

Questions: call the ERASE Racism office at (516) 921-4863 or email Olivia@eraseracismny.org 

donorspotlight
Donor Spotlight:
Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity Fundraiser  for ERASE Racism!

 

On Wednesday, February 26th, the NY Phi Lambda Chapter of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity at Adelphi University hosted a unique and engaging fundraiser called 'I Won't Come Down,' where its president, Michael La Sala, was taped to a chair and was not able to move until a certain amount of money was raised.  Pi Lambda Phi aims to eliminate prejudice by taking part in a different social theme every month. The theme of February was racial equality. 

 

As a way to raise awareness about discrimination on campus, participants had the chance to write down different prejudiced terms that they have experienced or have heard and with a donation they could remove some of the tape with the prejudiced terms.  Participants could also purchase laptop cases, coin purses, and pins as a way to donate to ERASE Racism.

 

Pi Lambda Phi member Steven Joseph called the event "a huge success" adding that it "generated buzz in the heart of the university."

 

Over $250 was raised for ERASE Racism NY. We thank all the members of the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity at Adelphi University and the event's participants for their support!

 

Click here to donate to ERASE Racism

civilrightsnews
Civil Rights in the News

New York City Settles Lawsuit Accusing Fire Dept. of Racial Bias 

 

After years of fighting for the end of racial discrimination in the hiring practices of the New York City Fire Department, the lawsuit has finally come to an end, leading to the creation of a host of reforms, from a court-appointed monitor to a new entrance exam and an influx of recruiters into black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

Click here to read the full coverage from the NY Times. 

 

 

California Chief Justice Warns of Civil Rights Crisis from Court Cuts

 

California court budgets in the last several years have been cut by about $1 billion. California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye told the Legislature on Monday that the closure of budget-strapped courts has deprived more than 2 million residents of accessible justice and left the state on the verge of a civil rights crisis. "It's tragic that 50 years after the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, California faces a different type of civil rights crisis," she said. "It is not about the law. It is about access to it."

Click here to read the complete article. 
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