ERASE Racism's public opinion survey will be closed on October 2nd!
If you haven't already done so, please take the brief online survey now. It only takes 7-9 minutes.
Your opinion matters to us!
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 info@eraseracismny.org
Phone: (516)-921-4863
Fax: (516)-921-4866
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President's Message
As summer draws to a close and a new season begins I reflect on the momentum that ERASE Racism has created in the past few months. In terms of our activities in fair housing, we have analyzed the deficiencies in New York State's Superstorm Sandy Recovery Action Plan and developed strategies to address some of the concerns. We held an in-person Sandy Briefing with nonprofits and others and discussed the intersection of civil rights and equitable Sandy Recovery, including furthering non-discriminatory affordable housing.
ERASE Racism, as one of the organizers of the Housing for All Coalition, is celebrating yet another victory in the pursuit for racial equity and protection of human rights. Read about the strengthened fair housing legislation in Suffolk County, which includes source of income as a protected class, in the article below.
As we develop actions to continue with our fair housing work, we are also focusing our attention towards strengthening our Partnership for Racial Equity. We are pleased to announce a new addition to the ERASE Racism team who will help engage with our partners. Read about our new Long Island Organizer Nuzhat Quaderi in the article below.
While ERASE Racism continues to primarily work in New York, our efforts to raise consciousness about institutional and structural racism is helping to enrich a growing national dialogue about race in America. Within a 30 day span of time, at least five unarmed black men (Eric Garner, John Crawford, Ezell Ford, Michael Brown, and Dante Parker) have died at the hands of white law enforcement. We help to put these tragedies into context in the article below about the protests in Ferguson.
We hope that you too are reflecting on the the role that we all have in closing the racial divide in our nation and here too on Long Island.
Warm regards,
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Sandy Briefing on August 6, 2014
ERASE Racism hosted a briefing and roundtable discussion about the civil rights issues related to Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts. Over 30 people attended, representing leadership from Long Island, Metro New York, and national organizations, who have been involved in a variety of Sandy-related programs and services. Organizations included law schools, legal clinics, foundations, and nonprofits addressing environmental sustainability, affordable housing development, fair housing advocacy, and social services. Small group discussions allowed participants to brainstorm about relief efforts regarding housing, infrastructure, and community development. "I learned a great deal at the meeting," said Thomas Maligno the Executive Director at the William Randolph Hearst Public Advocacy Center and Director of Public Interest at Touro Law Center, "and I have been speaking with my Touro colleagues about the issues and how we can assist. I look forward to our working together."
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Suffolk County Legislature Passes Strengthened Human Rights Bill
 After leading the effort in achieving a strengthened fair housing law in Nassau County, which included source of income as a protected class, ERASE Racism, as one of the organizers of the Housing for All Coalition, is celebrating yet another victory in the pursuit for racial equity and protection of human rights.
On Tuesday, September 10th, 2014, HR 1620 passed the Suffolk County Legislature by a unanimous vote. The bill expands the County's Human Rights Law to provide residents meaningful protection from discrimination in areas including housing, employment, credit, and public accommodations. The changes passed in the bill are a step forward for human rights in Suffolk County, benefiting a myriad of residents, including veterans, immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, single mothers with children, and seniors.
To read more about the bill and to see the testimony from Elaine Gross visit our housing page.
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Welcoming a New Addition to the
ERASE Racism Team!
Nuzhat Quaderi, Long Island Organizer
 Nuzhat Quaderi joins ERASE Racism with experience in building coalitions, organizing events, and working with organizations that focus on impacting and bringing awareness to social justice and health equity concerns. Having been actively involved in working with community-based organizations, non-profits, and student organizations, Nuzhat has a strong passion for working with and for the community through solidarity and advocacy. Nuzhat was raised on Long Island and she is excited to be home and working with ERASE Racism to do transformative work within the communities of Nassau and Suffolk County.
One of Nuzhat's primary goals as ERASE Racism's Long Island Organizer will be to help grow and engage our Partnership for Racial Equity. The Partnership is a diverse coalition of Long Islanders who support ERASE Racism's mission to create a region that is not divided by race. Members of the Partnership can participate in a variety of ways, from helping to identify often overlooked forms of racial discrimination to attending town hall meetings when we are advocating for new policies. If you are interested in joining the Partnership, click here.
To read Nuzhat's full bio click here.
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IN OTHER NEWS
Ferguson Through the Lens of
Structural Racism
Seeing the photo of Michael Brown, Sr. at his son's funeral brings home the enormity of what has happened in Ferguson, MO - a young man, with dreams and aspirations, heading to college in a week was shot and killed in the middle of the street in the broad daylight. Although the landscape, names, and faces may have changed, the story is the same. Structural racism is at the heart of most episodes of racial injustice in this country; yet, we seem to only have discussions about it in reaction to a tragedy.
Sadly, it is because of Michael Brown's murder that there are numerous calls to action: to construct a conversation on race; for white people to play an active role in the fight against racism; and for folks to "stop looking the other way".
As the riots continue and the Justice Department steps in, we need to remember that racism is not just something impacting racial minorities; it is destroying the fabric of trust that holds this country together.
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