Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware offered its support to the petition from civil rights leaders Reverend Al Sharpton and Pastor Blaine Hackett to meet with Delaware Supreme Court Justice Tamika Montgomery-Reeves, leader of the recently announced Delaware’s Bench and Bar Diversity Project.
Sharpton has highlighted what he views as a lack of diversity in Delaware’s judicial system, noting the disparity between the percentage of people of color in Delaware’s prison population and representation on the state courts. Pastor Blaine Hackett of St. John African Methodist Church has hosted events and developed a grassroots coalition at the local level.
“We encourage you to walk in the footsteps of this historic administration led by one of Delaware’s own, Joe Biden. We urge you to listen to the national movements for racial justice and make adequate, tangible steps to reverse and heal the pain caused by negligent leadership and lack of diversity. We also compel you to hold yourself accountable by sitting down with grassroots organizations, residents, and activists to gain relevant perspectives on pushing equity forward,” stated Hackett and Sharpton.
The letter highlighted what the two pastors see as a current lack of trust plaguing the Delaware judiciary due to failures in diversity efforts.
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware was formed after a disputed sale of New York business services company TransPerfect.
The group has been critical of Chancery Court and, in recent years, has focused on what it views as a lack of diversity in the Delaware court system.
The group was critical of a decision to appoint a white male to Chancery Court to replace Montomergy-Reeves who moved to the state Supreme Court.
