norman schiff

ACLU Newsletter on Lester Long and Police Advisory Board (June 1965)

Newsletter from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU) summarizing the ways in which various organizations acted in response to the fatal shooting of Lester Long by Newark Patrolman Henry Martinez. The shooting of Lester Long was one of the most well-known and contentious cases of alleged police brutality in Newark during the 1960s and reinvigorated community demands for a police review board. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Constitution and By laws of Police Precinct Council

Constitution and By-Laws for Newark Police Precinct Councils. The precinct councils were established as an alternative to a “police advisory board,” which Mayor Addonizio rejected in April 1963. According to the article, Addonizio said “the councils are to tell citizens that the police are their friends.” Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Toward Better Understanding- Police Precinct Councils Formed to Fill a Void (June 26, 1963)

Newsclipping from an unmarked paper on June 26, 1963 covering the establishment of “police precinct councils” by Mayor Addonizio and Police Director Dominick Spina. The precinct councils were established as an alternative to a “police advisory board,” which Mayor Addonizio rejected in April 1963. According to the article, Addonizio said “the councils are to tell citizens that the police are their friends.” Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Report on Conference Called by Mayor Addonizio- Police Advisory Board (May 22, 1963) (1)

Report from Newark Human Rights Commission Director Daniel Anthony on a conference with Mayor Addonizio, Dominick Spina, and Norman Schiff on May 22, 1963. The conference was called by Addonizio to discuss ways of improving cooperation between the Commission and City Hall in the wake of the Mayor’s rejection of a “police advisory board,” which the Commission supported. Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Review Board Out (Newark Sunday News April 7, 1963)

Article by Doug Eldridge of the Newark Evening News covering Mayor Addonizio’s public announcement rejecting a propsed “police advisory board.” A review board ‘would serve no useful purpose and could conceivably be a detriment to efficient law enforcement,’ Mayor Addonizio said in his statement. Following an influx of allegations of police misconduct and brutality in early 1963, African American community leaders advocated for the establishment of a “review board” or “advisory board” to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The struggle over a police advisory board continued through the 1960s and was a polarizing topic along racial lines in Newark. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Photos of Addonizio on Slum Tour (August 18, 1964)

Newspaper photos of Mayor Addonizio’s “inspection tour of ‘slum pockets” in Central Ward and Clinton Hill neighborhoods. Addonizio was prompted to personally inspect housing conditions after the Clinton Hill Neighborhood Council and Newark Community Union Project held rent strike demonstrations in the city that week. — Credit: Newark Public Library

On Poverty Tour- Mayor Promises Slumlord Action (Aug 18, 1964)

Clipping from an unmarked newspaper covering Mayor Addonizio’s “inspection tour of ‘slum pockets” in Central Ward and Clinton Hill neighborhoods. Addonizio was prompted to personally inspect housing conditions after the Clinton Hill Neighborhood Council and Newark Community Union Project held rent strike demonstrations in the city that week. — Credit: Newark Public Library

Newark Police Memo on CORE Demonstrations at Barringer (July 29, 1963)

Police report submitted on July 29, 1963 regarding demonstrations at the Barringer High School construction site to protest hiring discrimination in the building and construction trades in Newark against Blacks and Puerto Ricans. — Credit: NJ State Archives