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Essex County commissioners honor local leaders at Black History Month program
Summary
The Essex County Board of Commissioners held a Black History Month event recognizing four community leaders — Assemblywoman Garnett Hall, Sheriff Amir Jones, Diane Anglin and Diane Colson — with speeches, musical performances and a reception, and officials urged continued civic engagement and voter outreach.
The Essex County Board of Commissioners honored four local leaders at a Black History Month program, celebrating public service, community organizing and civic engagement.
Commissioner Vice President Tashami Cooper opened the event and named the honorees, saying the board would present plaques and certificates from congressional offices to Assemblywoman Garnett Hall, Sheriff Amir Jones, Diane Anglin and Diane Colson. "We are very proud to celebrate these leaders today," Cooper said in her introduction.
The program included musical performances of the Star-Spangled Banner and "Lift Every Voice and Sing," an opening prayer from Reverend Dr. Carol Lynn Patterson and remarks from each honoree. Commissioner Pat Seibold introduced Garnett Hall, noting Hall's work as an Essex County deputy clerk and her role in a 2019 vote-by-mail pilot. Hall, introduced as representing the 28th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly, accepted the honor and urged attendees to get involved locally: "So I'm asking you tonight for my vote," she told the room, and asked supporters to spread the word in their communities.
Cooper introduced Amir Jones as the new Essex County sheriff and summarized accomplishments attributed to the sheriff's office, saying Jones had led efforts that resulted in "reducing crime by 40%," the removal of "nearly 500 guns and assault rifles," and the seizure of "over $5,000,000 in illegal drugs." Sheriff Amir Jones thanked the commissioners and credited his staff before saying, "This journey is not about me. It's never been about me," and called his role a commitment to community safety and equality.
Diane Anglin, identified as president of the Montclair NAACP and an assistant to the CEO at Programs for Parents Incorporated, described her community work and urged support for local services that serve families and caregivers. "My name is Diane Anglin. I am here. I'm ready," she said, and warned that reductions to benefits such as SNAP and Medicaid would threaten child-care and support programs she helps to sustain.
The board also recognized Diane Colson of the People's Organization for Progress; commissioners detailed Colson's background in engineering education and longstanding county poll-work and voter-registration efforts. Musical selections by the Our Way ensemble punctuated the program and organizers encouraged continued voter education and youth engagement.
The event closed with a prayer from Patterson and an invitation to a reception and group photograph in the Blondie Watson Coleman Conference Room. Commissioners and guests stressed the program's purpose as both recognition and a call to sustained civic participation.
Next steps: honorees remained for a planned reception and photo with commissioners, and presenters reiterated ongoing voter-registration and education activities in the county.
