To commemorate the end of Black History Month, our new intern Poorvi Buller looked through an\u00a0American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) collection of Shad Polier’s papers for quotes that are emblematic of this lawyer and activist’s\u00a0commitment to protecting civil rights. Tomorrow, we will be tweeting these quotes out to remind all those in our community of the lasting significance of the civil rights movement, and the role that Jews have played in the\u00a0fight for equality. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe
\nare trying to put our ideals to work in the grass roots of our communities\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cJustice
\nis absolute and will always be absolute\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAll
\nraces and religions realized the justice of that cause"<\/i><\/p>\n
—Shad Polier, Symposium on Negro-Jewish Tensions transcript, April 7th <\/sup>1966, AJHS Shad Polier Papers, Box 7 Folder 4<\/p>\n “A<\/i>n integral aspect of that program must be the adoption of positive means to eliminate racism in all of its forms\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cWe prefer to extend democracy, rather than patch it up where it threatens to fall apart\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cWe have sought to lead the march against discrimination, no matter what its form and no matter who its intended victim\u201d. <\/i><\/p>\n —AJHS, Shad Polier Papers, Folder 15<\/p>\n A
\n
\n
\ngraduate of the University of South Carolina, Polier was deeply disturbed by
\nthe lynching, violence and racial oppression he saw around him and took it upon
\nhimself to fight for fairness and equality in education, employment and
\nhousing. A member of the National
\nAssociation for the Advancement of Colored People, Mr. Polier saw the fight for
\nracial equality as an \u201cAn American struggle–the struggle for human Equality
\nand human dignity\u201d and eventually succeeded in enacting New York\u2019s first Fair
\nEmployment Practices Law. A member of the American Jewish Congress and a pillar
\nagainst racism and anti-Semitism, Polier and his legacy remind us that the
\nstruggle for equality is one that requires inter-community dedication and
\npassion.<\/p>\n