28 | JULY 2 • 2020 

WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE 
OF THIS MOMENT FOR YOU?
I saw [Lubavitch] people cheer-
ing when the NYPD arrived [in 
response to a BLM protest] and 
sobbed. I wanted to normalize 
being a social justice activist 
by being a visibly frum person. 
This action is something one 
can do as a graduate of Bais 
Rivkah. The protesters who 
were there were not on the 

fringes [of the Chabad commu-
nity]. Also, to normalize show-
ing up for our Black neighbors. 

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE 
OUTCOME OF THE PROTEST?
I am so excited and happy that 
so many people from the Crown 
Heights community showed 
up in support of their Black 
neighbors. We weren’
t sure what 
the turnout would be. It went 
beyond our expectations. 
 A historian explained that 

3 percent of a community has 
to come out and protest in the 
streets in order for a revolution 
to follow. We were halfway there 
with our first protest. Given how 
heavily policed and silenced peo-
ple are within the community, I 
imagine there were many more 
who would have liked to show 
up but would worry about their 
kids being kicked out of school 
or otherwise being shamed 
for being public [about their 
liberal politics and activism]. I 
think there is a lot of energy and 
goodwill around the ideas we 
are advancing, and I think we 
uncovered that there’
s a lot more 
support for a progressive world-
view that’
s being buried than we 
had originally thought, which is 
heartening and galvanizing.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT 
STEPS WILL BE?
My hopes were to take a stand 

for racial justice and support 
our Black neighbors. I want-
ed both the Jewish and Black 
communities to see us and 
know that there is support for 
this cause. Seeing the positive 
response has really inspired us 
organizers, and we are working 
daily on meeting with local 
politicians and community 
groups; forming subcommit-
tees; coming up with a name 
and logo; and crafting a mission 
statement and focus. We hope 
to plan more rallies, educational 
events and generate awareness 
about civic engagement and 
cross-community conversation. 
This (movement) is internal, 
organic and rooted in Chasidic 
values, so we bring something 
unique to the table. 

You can follow along and support the 
cause at https://www.instagram.com/
ker_a_velt/

continued from page 27

Members of the 
Chabad community 
of Crown Heights 
marched for Black 
lives and held signs 
expressing their 
Jewish values. 

COURTESY OF ILANA SPENCER

Jews in the D

Advocating for Criminal 
Justice Reform
JCRC/AJC join clergy in the state capitol 
to propose policy changes.

R

ecently, Rabbi Asher Lopatin, 
executive director of the Jewish 
Community Relations Council/ 
AJC (JCRC/AJC), joined more than 60 
clergy from across the state and across 
racial and religious divides to advocate on 
the steps of the state capitol for criminal 
justice reform. 
 The Interfaith Coalition for Criminal 
Justice Reform was organized by the Rev. 
Dr. Tellis Chapman, the NAACP
, Council 
of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, 
and Bishop Edgar Vann. 
While there, the group proposed 
important policy changes on policing and 
reviewing police activities. This included 

a call for police departments to be com-
prised of resident members of the com-
munity; the prohibiting of chokeholds or 
placing an officer’
s body on a detainee, 
which causes bodily harm; requiring 
public safety officers to intervene when 
observing use of excessive force or other 
misconduct; and the reimagining of 
police department budgets to include 
funding to address social and mental 
health needs without direct police inter-
vention. 

Lauren Garfield-Herrin is assistant director of the 
JCRC/AJC.

LAUREN GARFIELD-HERRIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

TOP: Rabbi Lopatin with Dr. Steve Bland, president, 
Council of Bapitist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity.
BOTTOM: Rabbi Asher Lopatin speaks on the capitol 
steps surrounded by fellow clergy members.

JCRC/AJC

