Newark Community Braves Bitter Cold for MLK March and Rally

The celebration, held on Monday, Jan. 15 – a day which this year fell on both the federal holiday and the 95th birthday of Dr. King – kicked off at the Martin Luther King Statue in downtown Newark

“Everything Dr. King fought for is being eradicated right before our very eyes – with regards to racial equality and justice this country is going backwards. That’s why the theme of this year’s march is Black Liberation,” said Lawrence Hamm, chairman, People’s Organization For Progress. “Racial segregation, racial inequality, racial discrimination and racial violence against Black people are still glaring features of Black life in America as they were during Dr King’s lifetime.”

Speakers at the rally included the Rev. Elorm Ocansey from New Brunswick; Zayid Muhammad, Newark Communities for Accountable Policing; Rick Robinson, Newark Branch, NAACP; Toni Ervin and Denise Davis, the aunts of Andrew Washington III, killed by Jersey City police; Valerie Dale Corbett, the sister of Major Gulia Dale, killed by police in Newton, NJ; and two seniors citizens who are members of the People’s Organization For Progress and who were both participants at the 1963 March on Washington – Nathaniel Williams, 90 and Cliff Arrington, 89.

“The great achievement of the Civil Rights Movement was the destruction of the Jim Crow racial apartheid legal structure in the United States,” Hamm said. “However, while legalized segregation was outlawed, de facto segregation still exists. In fact, in some ways America is more segregated today in the 21st century, than it was when Dr King was assassinated in the 20th century.

Jackson Morgan, 15, from New York, attends school in Plainfield, NJ. He spoke about the difficulties that still exist in terms of racism as well as the challenges he faces being a biracial teen. His father is from Jamaica and his mother is Irish and an activist which motivated him to come out and participate in the march.

“I’ve been called the n word […] even though I’m very fair skinned. But I have an afro. People think I’m privileged but I’m not. People need to realize more about the biracial people out here and the challenges we face,” he said.

Hamm said Blacks and their advocates must continue to march, protest, vote and make sure their voices are heard.

“The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, crown jewels of the Civil Rights Movement, have been gutted. Affirmative action is being eliminated. Hundreds of bills have been introduced to interfere with our right to vote,” Hamm said. “Even teaching Black History is being prohibited and repressed in schools and colleges. Dr King’s work is far from finished. This year’s march is a clarion call to action. We must fight back. The struggle for Black liberation must continue.”