P.O. Box 362 | Penns Grove, NJ 08069 | (609) 381-8509 | www.NAAJustice.

org

August 5, 2015
Mayor Charles Watson
Township of Medford
17 North Main Street
Medford, New Jersey 08055
Dear Mayor Charles Watson:
I am the Founder and Chairman of the National Awareness Alliance, a civil rights
organization that was established to fight racial discrimination. Over the past year, we
have been involved in numerous incidents across the country and have been on the
forefront of fighting against all forms of racism, bigotry and bias.
Here is a sample of some of the stories my organization has been involved in:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/22/us/bridgeton-police-shooting/
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/keep_the_pressure_on_protestor.html
It has come to my attention that the Municipality of Medford has been in a protracted
fight with one of your stellar police officers Patrolman Mark Hunsinger. From meeting
with Officer Hunsinger, who is not only a prolific and productive member of the police
force, evidenced by his proactive approach to additional training and classes necessary
for promotion, it is clear and convincing that Patrolman Hunsinger has not been
promoted because he is the only African-American employed by Medford Township.
In my conversations with other national civil rights leaders, we are deeply disturbed that
Medford Township has opted not to promote Patrolman Hunsinger, a 16 year township
police department vet. Medford Township has also decided to withhold training classes
from Patrolman Hunsinger, which coupled with his exemplary work ethic would assist in
his promotion. In fact, Medford Township has decided not to compensate him for classes
he funded himself, which otherwise should have been funded by Medford Township.
Moreover, its my understanding that the leadership of Medford Township has not been
responsive to Patrolman Hunsingers redress and or his appeals in this matter.
The leadership of Medford Townships treatment of Patrolman Hunsinger smacks of
racism within academe and law enforcement community. I have spoken to a number of
friends of Patrolman Hunsingermany of whom are classmates of his Officer Hunsinger,
in addition to my comrades in the civil rights and social justice community. All of these
communications have resulted in a large community prepared to organize a massive

P.O. Box 362 | Penns Grove, NJ 08069 | (609) 381-8509 | www.NAAJustice.org

demonstration if this issue is not resolved quickly. Given the dearth of minority
representationparticularly African Americans on Medford Police Department,
Medford Township should and must do better. We will not allow systemic forms of racism
to linger.
Please know that I have also been in contact with leaders of the NAACP, National Urban
League, the Rainbow-Push Coalition and the Dream Defenders to keep them abreast
about the leadership of Medford Townships blatant disrespect of one of your
communitys shining stars. I am writing to inform you that the civil rights community is
closely monitoring the events in Medford Township and we will respond accordingly with
sustained protests and renewed demonstrations if this issue is not resolved
expeditiously.
Should you need to contact me, I can be reached at the phone number listed above.
My hope is that you will intervene to find a way forward from this most unfortunate
circumstance.
Sincerely,

Walter Hudson
Walter Hudson, Sr.
Founder/Chairman
cc:
Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
Reverend Al Sharpton
Honorable Marc Morial
Phil Agnew
Dr. Jamal Watson
Doug Long, Esq.
Udi Ofer, ACLU
Ed Barocas, Esq., ACLU