FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2020
Mermell Releases Sweeping Equity Policy to Address Injustices Plaguing American Society
BROOKLINE – Democrat Jesse Mermell today released her 10th policy plan of the campaign, continuing to lead the field with her comprehensive proposals that center equity and justice. It is because of her commitment to issues of equity that she has secured the broadest support among leaders of color and organizations with diverse memberships in the crowded field.
Mermell’s Equity Plan outlines the steps she will take in Congress to address long standing injustices that impact communities of color, low-income communities, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, women, indigenous people, and those who are differently abled.
“Centuries of structural racism and poor policy choices by our leaders have resulted in widespread injustices that plague every aspect of our society and disproportionately harm Black and Brown communities,” said Mermell. “Meanwhile, Trump fans the flames of hate and deepens these inequities with his outright racism, and his incompetence and utter disregard for justice. The Fourth District deserves a Congresswoman who will fight to right these wrongs and who will center the voices of those who have been most harmed in every step of her decision making. My Equity Plan outlines exactly how I plan to do that in Congress.”
The proposal calls for sweeping, structural reforms to our criminal legal, law enforcement, and immigration systems, as well as fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, defending and expanding women’s rights, supporting the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community, working in partnership with our tribal leaders, expanding voting rights, and protecting the rights of organized labor. The full plan can be read here.
Prominent among Mermell’s list of reforms is her commitment to reallocating federal funding from policing and incarceration to education, housing, building open spaces in our communities, mental health services, and community-based solutions, especially in Black and Brown communities that have been disproportionately targeted by police brutality, mass incarceration, and crime – which has commonly been referred to as defunding the police. Mermell was one of only a few candidates in the race to sign the Defund Newton Police Department organization’s Refunding Community Safety pledge committing to doing just that.
The Equity Plan follows significant endorsements of Mermell’s campaign from leaders of color and organizations throughout Massachusetts who have worked on the front lines with Jesse the last 20 years, including Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, former First Lady Diane Patrick, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, Sheriff Steve Tompkins and the Coalition for Social Justice. She also earned the most significant labor support in the race from the SEIU State Council, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the National Education Association, 1199 SEIU, IBEW Local 103 and the Massachusetts State Council of Machinists.
Mermell’s Equity Plan comes just weeks after she released policy proposals on COVID-19 response and recovery, health care, and education. Her full list of plans can be found here.