Equal Justice Now Honors Judge Greg Mathis and other Equal Justice Advocates in Hollywood

Community News, Entertainment, Fashion, Style — By Buddy Sampson on January 18, 2020 at 1:25 pm

By Buddy Sampson and Kim Webster

HOLLYWOOD, CA-Judge Greg Mathis, Congressman Maxine Waters, Darrell D. Miller, Esq., Jemele Hill, Ebony Magazine CEO Willard Jackson and Stevie Wonder’s KJLH were honored with the Benjamin Crump Equal Justice Award on a cloudy, rainy day in Hollywood.

The rain, however, couldn’t dampen the brilliance of the stars in attendance, which included civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, Petri Hawkins-Byrd (of Judge Judy fame), Kiki Shepard, Natasha Alam, Patrick Faucette, Jordan Simone, Model/make up artist Dominique Latigue, “Fou, Fou” The Drummer from The Dells, Comedian Annie McKnight and Judge Greg Mathis, among many others.

Mathis paid homage to the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who inspired the audience with his familiar mantra, “I Am Somebody.” The popular TV judge recounted a story of his troubled youth and how Jackson helped turn his life around. “I met you in jail,” said Mathis, “and you said that if I went to college, I can work with you. I said, ‘well I’m here now, and he’s put me to work ever since.’”

Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump spoke to the audience and emphasized the importance of making changes in the criminal justice system, which has shown a penchant to be against people of color. “My brothers and sisters, “said Crump, “what Equal Justice stands for is your issues, your concerns, your family members, people who deserve to have due process of the law. We stand against wrongful convictions, false arrest, unreasonable and excessive bail. We stand up for people who can’t stand up for themselves.”

“Tony Smith and I founded Equal Justice Now,” said Bill Shields, Equal Justice Now. “Our obligation is to fight for the rights of individuals across all fronts as it relates to criminal justice and all related issues.” Economic empowerment is one of the key tools necessary for changes to be made in the Black community and reforming Black communities. When Black businesses prosper, communities grow.

“We have to have the financial institutions to become less discriminatory than they are,” said Judge Greg Mathis, when asked how Black entrepreneurs can prosper in 2020. “We couldn’t get them to free the land, we’ve got to get them to free the money. The biggest impediment to Black business is access to finances.”

Comedienne Annie McKnight, who also performed at the event, believes that change in America has been slow, to say the least. “Equal Justice is needed by our people in many ways because of what we still, unfortunately have to go through,” said Annie McKnight. “The things we’re experiencing- we’re experiencing in the streets with the police beating up our brothers, killing our sisters, our children, it’s too much now.”

Emmy nominated actor Obba Babatunde and Rico E. Anderson of the TV show S.W.A.T. were also in attendance. Actress Sasha Kerbel, who recently worked on an audio app for children, felt strongly about the rights of all individuals. “Justice should always be equal,” said Sasha Kerbel. “My heart always aches when I read the articles, watch these viral videos- there’s so much inequality and it should be fixed.”

Although the rain pelted the sidewalks and streets of Hollywood, it didn’t dampen the spirit and fight of those in attendance, those that advocate the cause of fairness for all citizens. “We need to stand up for Equal Justice Now,” said Annie McKnight.

Special thanks to Lynn Jeter, an amazing publicist of excellence in Hollywood, who invited us to get The Scoop in Los Angeles.