Top 10 of 2020: #9 – Racial Justice Coalition Presses for Change

The New Britain Progressive covered a lot of major news in New Britain during 2020 – much more than just ten top stories. As the New Britain Progressive now presents our traditional Top Ten stories of the year, it is truer now than in the past that it is difficult to name only a few articles as the top among a great deal of important news. But here are a few, in this year’s annual series, that the New Britain Progressive would like to share as our Top Ten. Other Top Ten stories can be found at “Top Ten Stories of 2020.”

New Britain has a long history of heroic leaders fighting for civil rights and equality and against racism, and the city is blessed with a very active NAACP Branch, Black Ministerial Alliance and other organizations that have worked for years to address systemic racism and promote equality.

And a new organization, born in 2020, has brought additional energy to that activism. Emerging from the summer of protests and activism against systemic racism in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition has sought to bring results from demands for change made during the protests.

The Racial Justice Coalition joined with Black Ministerial Alliance, NAACP, People’s Coalition of Central Connecticut and others in July, calling for a “People’s Agenda” pressing for, “systemic changes in public institutions,” (“Call Made for a People’s Agenda in New Britain“) . In August, the Racial Justice Coalition issued its own issue platform, opposing white supremacy and systemic racism and calling for broad-based progressive changes, including, “healthy food, quality education, reliable childcare and full-coverage healthcare for all,” as well as decriminalization of all non-violent crimes, affordable housing, shifting budget priorities from policing to social services and taxing the wealthy. (“Racial Justice Coalition Platform Promotes Equality“.)

In July, Racial Justice Coalition held a protest pressing for the city to remove the Christopher Columbus from the public parkland at the corner of Main and North streets, (“Protest Calls for City to Remove Columbus Statue“), an issue that appears likely to carry forward into the new year, as Republican Mayor Erin Stewart vetoed a resolution approved by the City Council to move the statue.

The Racial Justice Coalition pressed for the approval of the state’s new police accountability law and for the approval of a community police review board by the City Council. When Council Republicans voted down the creation of a strong police review board in a Council committee, the Coalition demanded documents from the city in an effort to, “illuminate why city officials failed to approve popular social justice reforms proposed by local activists.” (“Racial Justice Coalition Files Official Document Request“.)

The Racial Justice Coalition has initiated service-based community activism, with such efforts as providing breakfast in the community (“Racial Justice Coalition Seeks Volunteers for Breakfast Program“) and a Halloween “candy gram” program for kids, because, “We know that trick or treating isn’t an option this year so we are going to bring the candy to you!” (“Racial Justice Coalition Seeks Donations for Halloween ‘Candy Gram’ Program“.)

The Coalition recently opened a new front in its activism, kicking off a campaign for greater education funding from city hall and systemic changes in the school system. (“Coalition Starts Campaign for Education Funding, Justice“.)

While it is not the only organization working for progressive change in New Britain, the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition made a big impact on the course of events in the city in 2020. Its dogged activism brought a number of the key local issues during the year to front and center and kept those issues from being swept under the carpet.

That impact, which seems only to be growing, made the creation and work of the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition one of the New Britain Progressive‘s Top Ten Stories of 2020.

Protest Calls for City to Remove Columbus Statue

July 9, 2020

Protesters held a demonstration and march calling for the swift removal by the city of the Christopher Columbus statue in New Britain.

The protest and march, organized by the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition, was held on July 8, 2020.

Protest leaders spoke at the Columbus statue, at the corner of Main and North streets, before marching near City Hall to call to the City Council to act quickly to remove the statue.

As the demonstration proceeded, protesters were cheered by motorists honking horns and shouting words of approval.

Meanwhile, a Council petition, submitted by two Council members, Ald. Colin Osborn (D-2) and Ald. Chris Anderson (D-AL), called on,

the City Plan Commission to please submit a report to the Common Council for the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue at Columbus Park located at the corner of Main Street and North Street.

The petition calls on the City Plan Commission to submit the report to the Council office by August 6, 2020.

A City Council petition is procedure in New Britain by which an individual member or more than one member of the Council is empowered to require consideration of action from or a report by a city department or commission. Council members frequently use this process to formally propose that the city take action on particular concerns.