PRESS CONFERENCE: LABOR UNIONS & COMMUNITY GROUPS WILL CALL FOR MAY DAY PROTESTS

A coalition of labor and community organizations will hold a press conference on Wednesday morning to call for protests to draw attention to the plight of working people in New Jersey and the rest of the country.

The press conference to discuss May Day protests in Newark and other parts of the state will take place Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 11:00am at Bethany Baptist Church, 275 West Market Street, Newark, NJ.

“The purpose of the press conference is to announce support for and urge participation in protests that will take place on May 1, 2026 which is also observed as May Day. These protests will demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s domestic and foreign policies that adversely affect working people,” Lawrence Hamm, chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated. 

The press conference is being hosted by the People’s Organization For Progress, Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union RWDSU UFCW AFL-CIO, the New Jersey AFL-CIO, Painters Union IUPAT DC 21, New Jersey Education Association, American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU, Laborers’ International Union of North America Eastern Region, 1199J AFSCME, Essex West Hudson Labor Council, I.U.O.E  Local 68, ILA Local 1233, NAACP Newark, Food & Water Watch, Empower NJ, Climate Revolution Action Network, Ironbound Community Corporation and the Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance Planning Committee.

Speakers at the press conference will include representatives of the hosting organizations including Charles Hall, President, Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union RWDSU UFCW AFL-CIO, Steve Beatty, President, New Jersey Education Association, John Marino, IUPAT DC 21, Jennifer S. Higgins, President, American Federation of Teachers and Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress. Representatives of other labor and community groups are also expected to speak. 

On Friday, May 1st the coalition will have a May Day rally and march. The rally will start 11:00 am at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue in Newark. A march to the federal building at 970 Broad Street after the rally is also planned.

“We are having this rally to draw attention to the economic needs of working people, poor people, and the middle class,” Hamm stated.

“May Day is an international observance. It is a day when workers around the world call for unity and raise their demands for a better life. We felt it was important to add our protest to those demanding economic justice for working people at home and abroad,” Hamm said.

“I will stand with my brothers and sisters to show that our Solidarity is stronger then ever on May Day ( International Workers Day ) This day is about Labor’s history, workers rights, safe work places and dignity,” Charles Hall, President, Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union, stated. 

“Given the difficulties of the world and yes right here in America, Labor must lead.  Working families and the middle class are under attack and the poor not even a part of the conversation. Labor Solidarity and building coalitions with groups that are being marginalized  is the way turn this situation around,” Hall said. 

“The attack on immigrants is wrong and Labor stands with those who are hard working and good  people.  The work of immigrants helps  keep our country moving. This May Day we will send a message of Solidarity and Resistance. 

An injury to one is an Injury to all,” he said

“Our nearly 200,000 members go to work every day determined to help their students learn, grow and thrive. When they also have to worry about whether they can afford food, housing and health care for their own families, it distracts from their critical mission,” NJEA President Steve Beatty stated. 

“We are proud to stand in strong solidarity with other unions and organizations that fight for workers’ rights. I’m a high school social studies teacher and a union president, so I know from both history and personal experience that when labor is strong and united we make America better for everyone,”Beatty said. 

“May Day is a great time to remind everyone what working people have done for this country and we can accomplish together when we truly live up to our motto of Solidarity Forever!” he said. 

“Workers are the backbone of this society.  Without them, America is crippled.  Workers deserve decent wages, medical benefits, vacation time and working conditions” Deborah Smith Gregory, President, NAACP Newark stated. 

Hamm noted that the press conference will not only call for participation in the protest that the coalition is having in Newark but will urge people to participate in all the May Day activities being held around the state.

“While the general call for May Day is for no work, no school, and no shopping it must be noted that there will be a wide variety of protests and other activities taking place at different times and places and focusing on different issues,” he said.

Some of the coalition’s May Day demands include increasing the federal minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15.00 per hour, passage of legislation to facilitate unionization, ending racial discrimination in hiring and promotions, equal pay for equal work.

Other demands include fair contracts, the establishment of a living wage in the U.S., paid sick leave, universal child care, Medicare For All, free college, elimination of student debt, and a national federal jobs program to eliminate unemployment.

In addition the coalition is demanding an end to the war in Iran, cutting military spending, restoration of the cuts in social programs, rehiring federal workers that have lost their jobs, rescinding tax cuts for billionaires, and increased federal funding for public education.

For more information about today’s rally please call People’s Organization for Progress at 973 801-0001.

Statement from Attorney General Jay Jones on Misleading Mailers Targeting Black Voters

Attorney General Jay Jones released the following statement regarding deceptive mailers being sent to Black voters about Virginia’s redistricting referendum.

“As Virginia’s first Black Attorney General, I take very seriously the history that is being invoked in these mailers. Reports indicate that a group opposing the redistricting referendum has sent materials to Black voters that misuse imagery from the Civil Rights Movement and even invoke Jim Crow while falsely suggesting the measure threatens Black representation.

My parents and grandparents lived through the reality of Jim Crow in Virginia. They experienced firsthand what it meant when the law and the political system were used to silence Black voices. That history is not a political prop, and it should never be exploited in a misleading attempt to confuse voters.

Virginians deserve honest information about the choices before them. Invoking the pain and sacrifice of the civil rights movement while spreading misleading claims about this referendum disrespects the very people who fought to secure the right to vote and have their voices heard.”

The Return of EBONY Power 100: Honoring the Icons, Innovators and Leaders of Today and Tomorrow

EBONY proudly announces the return of EBONY Power 100, the iconic annual celebration recognizing the individuals who are redefining what leadership, influence and excellence look like across the global Black community. Building on a legacy that spans more than eight decades, EBONY Power 100 continues to spotlight the trailblazers whose work is transforming culture, business, sports, media, politics, the arts and beyond.

Now entering a new chapter, EBONY Power 100 2026 invites the public to help identify the leaders, creators, executives, advocates and disruptors whose contributions are moving communities forward and shaping tomorrow's possibilities. Nominations are open now and will close on May 8, 2026.

"EBONY Power 100 is more than a celebration of achievement — it is a reflection of the vision, leadership and cultural impact shaping our future in real time," said Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, Chief Executive Officer of EBONY. "As we open nominations for 2026, we are proud to honor the innovators, changemakers and trailblazers whose influence is moving our communities, our culture and our legacy forward."

For generations, EBONY has chronicled the people and moments that define Black America and the broader diaspora. EBONY Power 100 continues that tradition by recognizing a dynamic cross-section of honorees whose leadership resonates across industries and generations. From established icons to emerging visionaries, this year's program will celebrate those whose work embodies innovation, purpose and cultural power.

The call for nominations is open to the public, encouraging communities, colleagues and supporters to submit the names of individuals whose influence deserves recognition on one of culture's most prestigious stages.

The Black Women's Leadership Collective Launches "One Million Black Voters Rising"

The Black Women's Leadership Collective (BWLC), together with its 12 partner organizations and BWLC's North Carolina and Virginia chapters, today announced the launch of One Million Black Voters Rising (1MBVR) www.onemillionblackvotersrising.org a bold, multi-year effort to register one million new Black voters, build collective power and long-term civic engagement. Rooted in the organizing power of Black women—our democracy's most active participants 1MBVR launches with a combined reach of more than 20 million Black women nationwide and their networks.

Using a combination of digital tools, on-the-ground organizing, and culturally competent outreach, 1MBVR invites participants to register new voters and sustain engagement through 2026, 2028, and beyond. Equipped and supported to activate their own networks—in neighborhoods, campuses, workplaces, and congregations—and to have direct, honest conversations. By focusing on person-to-person activation, 1MBVR aims to convert untapped eligibility into real outcomes: more resources for schools, deeper investment in communities, greater opportunity for families, and leadership that is accountable to Black voters.

This effort is grounded in a simple truth: Black political power has not peaked—it has been undercounted, underestimated, and undervalued. At a time of unprecedented threats to our lives, our opportunities, and our communities, anti-Blackness and racism are having a real impact on our present and our future—issues that are not always addressed in traditional voter registration efforts. This is a critical moment to demonstrate what's possible when we move together—across organizations, sectors, and states. That's why 1MBVR is designed to meet people where they are, building the movement through trust, conversation, and connection.

The One Million Black Voters Rising Movement launches with an urgent call to Join the Movement to One Million Stronger. We are rising to use our power—because we have the numbers to create real change, and because there is more to do: more to protect, more to fight for, and more to build for the next generation.

About the Black Women's Leadership Collective
The Black Women's Leadership Collective (BWLC) is an intergenerational, intersectional organizing hub of national Black women-centered organizations, leaders, and advocates from across the country. Rooted in the power of collective action, BWLC is building, growing, and activating a national network to ensure Black women's voices are heard—in the halls of power, at the ballot box, and in our communities. https://www.blackwomensleadershipcollective.org

American Council of Learned Societies Awards 2026 ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowships and Grants

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to announce the 2026 awardees of the ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowship and Grant Program, which supports exceptional research by faculty in the humanities and interpretive social sciences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Eight fellows will receive up to $50,000 each to support long-term engagement with a research project. Twelve grantees will receive up to $10,000 each to support project development and smaller scale research projects.

"This year's 20 awards support faculty at 18 different HBCUs—large and small, private and public," said Nike Nivar Ortiz, ACLS Program Officer in US Programs. "The breadth of institutions, scholarly fields, and research methods represented in this year's awardees shows the depth of the scholarship found across the HBCU system. ACLS is proud to continue our support for faculty at HBCUs, which play a pivotal role in American higher education and history."

This year's awarded projects take up local HBCU and community histories, pressing national issues, key literary figures, and complex transnational movements. Funded projects include a history of the African American Union soldiers who founded Lincoln University of Missouri; an examination of women's political participation in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1930-1965; an exploration of the moral, economic, and legal case for Black reparations; and a study of marginalized perspectives in African diasporic opera. The research spans a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, including African American studies, linguistics, philosophy, religious studies, and theater and performance studies.

Learn more about the 2026 ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellows and ACLS HBCU Faculty Grantees and their projects.

Now in its third year, the program was developed in consultation with HBCU faculty and administrators to attend to the unique teaching and service commitments of faculty at HBCUs. The awards include networking and professional development opportunities, as well as an additional grant of $2,500 to the awardee's home institution to support humanities programming or infrastructure.

The ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowship and Grant Program is funded primarily by the ACLS endowment, which has benefited from the generous support of esteemed funders, institutional members, and individual donors since our founding in 1919.

Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS expands the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting our commitment to diversity of identity and experience. ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship.

Congressional Black Caucus Statement on Trump’s Unlawful Voter Suppression Executive Order

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement on Trump’s Unlawful Voter Suppression Executive Order:

“Right now, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are deploying every tactic imaginable to suppress the power of the people in a desperate effort to maintain control in Washington. The executive order signed by President Trump is an unlawful and unconstitutional attempt to dictate who in this country is allowed to vote.

“This sweeping order would allow the Trump Administration to unilaterally determine voter eligibility, intimidate state election officials through politically motivated investigations, and jeopardize the privacy of millions of law-abiding Americans. It would also disenfranchise Black and other minority voters, women, young people, individuals with disabilities, and older Americans.

“The order directs federal agencies to compile lists of eligible voters in each state and instructs the U.S. Postal Service to distribute mail ballots only to so-called ‘verified’ voters, which raises serious concerns about access, fairness, and federal overreach.

“Donald Trump and Republicans know their policies have failed the American people. That is why they are working to weaken the Voting Rights Act and advance voter suppression legislation like the SAVE Act in a continued effort to cling to power.

“There is no scenario in which this unlawful, anti-democratic, and authoritarian executive order will not go unchallenged to the fullest extent of the law.”

NAACP Calls for Fair Elections Practices in Response to Trump Executive Order Limiting Mail-in Voting

President Trump signed an executive order limiting mail-in ballots to an approved list of absentee voters. The Department of Homeland Security in collaboration the Social Security Administration have been tasked with creating the approved list of voters who will receive a mail-in ballot by the U.S. Postal Service. The executive order also threatens to withhold federal funding for any state who does not comply.

Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO shared the following response:

"Americans in every corner of our country, rural and urban, Black and white, rich and poor, healthy and infirm, civilian and servicemember, have participated in mail-in voting for decades without issue. Trump himself cast a mail-in ballot in Florida's most recent elections. This executive order is a sham.  Like mid-decade racial gerrymandering, the unlawful seizing of ballots in Fulton County, Georgia, and the SAVE Act's modern-day poll tax requirements, this executive order is intended to sow chaos and discourage voter participation in the midterm elections. We will continue to turn to the courts to ensure that everyone can have voice in our elections."

For more information on the NAACP's work to protect voting rights, visit our website.

POP CHAIRMAN LAWRENCE HAMM TO VISIT SITE OF KING SHOOTING ON ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ASSASSINATION

People’s Organization For Progress chairman Lawrence Hamm will visit the site where Dr Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed on the anniversary of his assassination.

Hamm will be flying to Memphis, Tennessee tomorrow to participate in a commemoration of the life of the slain civil rights leader that will take place at the National Civil Rights Museum.

The museum is located at the former Lorraine Motel where King was shot and killed. Tomorrow will mark the 58th anniversary of his assassination.

Dr King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis. He was shot after 6:00pm while standing on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel. King was pronounced dead at 7:05pmat St Joseph Hospital.

“The People’s Organization For Progress is sending me to the King commemoration taking place at the site of his assassination to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the goals and ideals for which he stood,” Hamm stated.

“This visit is especially important at this time since everything that Dr King fought for including racial equality, economic justice, civil rights, voting rights, human rights, and peace are under attack from President Trump, the MAGA Republican Congress, and the ultra right wing super majority on the Supreme Court,” he said.

“The Trump Administration is trying to destroy the last vestiges of everything Dr King and the Civil Rights Movement fought for and achieved,” he said.

At the time of his death King was in Memphis to lend his support to the city’s striking sanitation workers who were trying to organize a union and negotiate for higher wages and safer working conditions.

He was also planning a Poor People’s March that was to take place during June of that year in Washington DC.

“We believe that King was assassinated because he was trying to build a movement to end poverty, racial and economic inequality, and the war in Vietnam,” Hamm said.

“He was expanding the scope of his movement from civil rights to human rights. And he became increasingly critical of the capitalist economic system,” he said.

“Dr King called for a redistribution of power and wealth in this country and the transformation of our socioeconomic system. This is no secret. It’s in his speeches, his writings, and his books,” he said.

“He was seen as a threat to the system by many of those in power. I believe that’s why they killed him,” he said.

“Dr King his gone but his struggle continues. The best way to honor him is for those of us who are here to continue his fight for justice,” Hamm said.

The People’s Organization For Progress has celebrated King’s birthday and commemorated the anniversary of his assassination since the organization was founded in 1982.

HBCUs Compete for Over $500,000 and National Championship Title at 37th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge

Teams from 32 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have earned spots in the National Championship Tournament of the 37th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC), America's premier academic competition for HBCUs. Top scholars will compete next month for the HCASC championship and a $100,000 grand prize, part of more than $500,000 in institutional grants Honda will award to participating HBCUs this year.

The "Thrilling 32" HBCU teams excelled in February's national qualifying tournaments and now advance to the 2026 HCASC National Championship Tournament, held near the regional corporate headquarters of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in Torrance. The final games will be streamed on Thursday, April 16 at 3:00 p.m. PDT: https://www.youtube.com/hcascnct. 

"Honda Campus All-Star Challenge has served as a national stage for HBCU scholars for nearly 40 years, providing scholarships, opportunities and experiences that inspire students to grow and become the next generation of leaders," said Jasmine Cockfield, Honda Campus All-Star Challenge project lead at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Honda is committed to driving the legacy of HBCUs by connecting generations of current students, alumni and HCASC supporters through a shared passion for learning and the bonds it creates."

Since its launch in 1989, Honda Campus All-Star Challenge has supported over 180,000 HBCU students in achieving their dreams. Each year, Honda awards institutional grants that help participating HBCUs fund scholarships, student development initiatives and facility enhancements.

A Legacy of Academic Excellence, Culture and Community

Now in its 37th season, the year-round Honda Campus All-Star Challenge encourages students to expand their knowledge across diverse subjects while building their leadership and teamwork skills. The program continues a proud HBCU legacy of celebrating academic achievement and culture. Beyond the competition, HCASC has evolved into a multigenerational community that fosters belonging, confidence, mentorship, and school pride.

During HCASC gameplay, teams of four students compete in an exhilarating head-to-head showdown, rapidly answering questions on topics that include African American literature and history, current affairs, economics, fine arts, geography, government, pop culture, science, and more.

Competing against peers from other HBCUs provides students opportunities to network, receive mentorship from HCASC alumni and Honda associates, and create "Friends for Life." Honda also offers development seminars and career-focused programming to help students succeed after graduation.

The "Thrilling 32" HBCUs Competing for the HCASC Championship Title

Teams from the following HBCUs are gearing up to compete in the 2026 HCASC National Championship Tournament in Torrance, California:

Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
Albany State University
Benedict College
Clark Atlanta University
Dillard University
Fisk University
Florida A&M University
Fort Valley State University
Hampton University
Howard University
Kentucky State University
Langston University
Lincoln University-Pennsylvania
Livingstone College
Mississippi Valley State University
Morehouse College
Norfolk State University
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
Oakwood University
Paul Quinn College
Prairie View A&M University
Southern University - Baton Rouge
Spelman College
Stillman College
Tennessee State University
Tuskegee University
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
University of the District of Columbia
Virginia State University
Winston-Salem State University

Fast Facts

• Recent HCASC national champions include Hampton University (2025), Oakwood University (2024) and Stillman College (2023).
  
  
• Only one school (Morehouse College) has qualified for all 37 HCASC National Championship Tournaments.
  
  
• The HCASC game format consists of three face-off rounds with bonus questions, and the fast-paced Ultimate Challenge round, where any team can make an exciting comeback to win.
  
  
• Students dedicate hundreds of hours studying topics ranging from history and science to geography and pop culture.
  
  
• More than 90% of student participants say HCASC has helped them build "Friends for Life."
  
  
• 89 HBCUs are eligible to participate in HCASC, representing 20 states and the District of Columbia.
  
  
• HCASC alumni are making their mark worldwide, excelling in science, engineering, medicine, media, aeronautics, education, industry, and government fields.

Follow the journeys of the "Thrilling 32" HBCU teams to the HCASC National Championship on the HCASC Facebook, Instagram, Threads and TikTok. HBCUs interested in the HCASC program can email hcascstaff@hcasc.com for more information.

About Honda and Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Honda has supported the success and dreams of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students for over 35 years, through programs such as the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge and Honda Battle of the Bands. These initiatives have impacted the lives of more than 350,000 students and provided over $16 million in grants toward HBCU education programs and facilities improvements.

Through its "Drive the Legacy" initiative, Honda partners with HBCUs and organizations such as the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, National Urban League, and local UNCF chapters, to offer development opportunities to HBCU students and recruit top talent for its future workforce. Honda also supports initiatives of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus to bring together government, industry and HBCUs to create strategic, more sustainable HBCU partnerships.

Notice: Although the information included in this press release is accurate as of the date of publication, this information is subject to change at any time without notice. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. assumes no responsibility for updating this information.

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

NO KINGS PROTEST IN NEWARK, NJ SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH

A No Kings III March And Rally to protest policies of the Trump administration will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, 12:00 noon, at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue, in Newark, New Jersey.

“The purpose of this march is to protest the racist, fascist, and unjust policies at home and abroad of President Trump, his administration, the Republican controlled Congress, and the ultra conservative U.S. Supreme Court,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated. 

The march is sponsored by People’s Organization For Progress (POP) and co-sponsored by the Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance Planning Committee.

Thus far 41 organizations have endorsed the march. They include Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union RWDSU UFCW AFL-CIO, Painters Union IUPAT DC21, 32BJ SEIU, District 1199J/AFSCME, Union of Rutgers Administrators (URA-AFT), New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), Newark NAACP, Nu Family Foundation Inc, Teaneck Vigil for Peace And Justice, and Sophia Inclusive Community.

Also among the endorsers are New Jersey Black Issues Convention, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, New Jersey Communities for Accountable Policing, New Jersey Peace Action, Leonia Vigil for Peace & Justice, Justice & Unity Coalition, Refuse Fascism - NJ Chapter, New Brunswick Area Branch NAACP, Community of Friends In Action, MAL Civic Association, National United Youth Council, and African American Alliance USA.  

Also among the endorsers are Food & Water Watch, New Jersey for Bernie, Muslim League of Voters of New Jersey, Operation Ceasefire Committee of Paterson, Our Revolution New Jersey, Veterans For Peace Chapter 021, Justice for All Party of New Jersey, Unapologetic Amateur Looking for Experts in Africanism, Make The Road New Jersey, Piscataway Progressive Democratic Organization, Women Who Never Give Up, Inc, The Association of Black Contractors, Mothers Against Forced Foster Adoption, South Jersey Progressive Democrats, Merchantville Democratic Committee, and Cherry Hill Democratic Committee, Bomba’s Barbershop, Public Service Governance. 

Hamm said he has been asked “why are you marching.”

“We are marching against Trump’s attempts to become a dictator, his criminality, his administration’s flagrant violations of the law and the constitution, his blatant, breathtaking and boundless corruption, and his efforts to repress and crush dissent,” Hamm said.  

“We have a number of demands which include an immediate end to the illegal, unjust and immoral war in Iran, abolishing ICE, releasing all of the Epstein files, removal of all federal troops and national guard from our cities, impeaching Trump, members of his administration and Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito,” he said. 

“We are marching for an end to Trump’s tariffs which are driving up the cost of living, an increase in the minimum wage to $20 an hour, restoration of federal budget cuts and DOGE cuts, rehiring of laid off and fired federal workers, the payment of the TSA workers,” he said.

“We also demand congressional support of pro-labor and union organizing legislation, free college, abolition of student debt, universal healthcare/medicare for all, and for millionaires and billionaires to pay their fare share of taxes,” he said. 

“We are marching to demand that the president and his administration cease all efforts aimed at interfering with, impeding, sabotaging or canceling the congressional midterm elections. We demand the return to Fulton County, Georgia the ballots illegally seized by the Trump administration,” he said. 

“We demand Congress vote against Trump’s Save Act, an immediate halt to all efforts to end mail-in ballots, the passage of the John Lewis voting rights acts at the state and federal level, the passage of same day voter registration legislation, and overturning the Citizens United Supreme Court decision to get big money out of our elections,” Hamm said. 

“We are marching for the prosecution of ICE agents responsible for the deaths of Alex Pretty, Renee Good, Keith Porter, Jean Wilson Brutus and all victims of ICE, an end to illegal detentions and deportations, the removal of ICE from our airports and our communities, the elimination of all warehouse detention centers and a halt to the opening and construction of new ones , the closure of Delaney Hall in Newark, and dropping of charges against Congresswoman Monica McIver,” he said.

“We are marching against Trump’s racist, white supremacist and anti-black policies.  He has targeted the African American community in a particularly destructive way. Trump and his racist and fascist movement have accelerated a sixty year long attack on Black people the goal of which is to roll back the progress we made fighting against the racial inequality, injustice, segregation, discrimination and oppression in this country,” he said. 

“We demand an end to the  
attacks on African Americans and our voting rights, civil rights, human rights, and civil liberties. We are marching to restore affirmative action and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs, the rehiring of all workers, including the 300,000 black women who lost their jobs as a result of the elimination of those programs,” he said. 

“We are protesting to demand the reopening and re-staffing of civil rights divisions and offices in all government agencies, the passage of slavery reparations legislation at the state and federal levels, the passage of anti-police brutality legislation including establishment of police review boards with subpoena, investigatory and disciplinary powers, and an end to ongoing discrimination and inequality in housing, employment, education, health care and other areas of society,” he said. 

“Two years ago the FBI and Department of Homeland security said the greatest threat to public safety in America was racist, white supremacist, domestic terror and violence. The Trump administration has attempted to erase this fact, but racist violence and bias attacks are on the rise,” Hamm said. 

“We are marching to demand that the Department of Justice focus its effort on stopping these racist attacks on African Americans and other people rather than looking for some imaginary “antifa” organization. We demand a halt to attempts by Trump’s Department of Justice to drop charges against police officers that killed George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other victims of police brutality,” he said. 

“We demand an end to book banning, an immediate halt to all attempts to remove Black history and Black studies curriculum, programs, courses and departments from our schools, colleges and universities, the full implementation of the Amistad African American history law throughout the state of New Jersey, and removal of all statues and names associated with slavery and the confederacy from all government buildings, parks, and streets,” he said. 

“We are marching to oppose government policies and legislation that discriminate, penalize or harm people because of their race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, or gender. We are marching against attempts to deny, limit, or eliminate women’s equality and reproductive rights. We demand an end to any policies, laws and legislation that will adversely affect or deny the rights of the LGBTQ community,” he said. 

“We are marching for a just, fair, and peaceful foreign policy that respects human rights,  a halt to U.S. support for Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinians and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, and an end to the blockade and sanctions against Cuba and the normalization of relations,” he said. 

“We demand an end to the illegal detention of President Maduro and his wife and their return to Venezuela, the return of money, oil, and resources stolen by the United States from Venezuela, an end to U.S. imperialist domination and repression in Haiti, an end to U.S. support for war and genocide in the Congo, Sudan, and other African countries, and an end to the use of nuclear weapons,” Hamm said.

To get more information and to sign up for the march click on this link:  https://mobilize.us/s/jGDAqY/o . For additional information contact the People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001

WBGO's Steven A. Williams, Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, and Council Member Carmen De La Rosa Named JPI 2026 Honorees

The board of Jazz Power Initiative (JPI), is pleased to announce the honorees for the Syncopated Celebration 2026 fundraiser, scheduled for May 14 at 6:00 pm at Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 250 West 95th Street, Manhattan.

WBGO President & CEO Steven A. Williams, who joined the iconic radio station and global jazz leader nearly six years ago, will receive the Rothman Family Syncopated Partnership Award.

Mr. Williams, a dedicated jazz enthusiast and self-described “radio guy,” credits his family's musical legacy, especially his grandfather, who introduced him to jazz, for inspiring his passion for music and education.

As WBGO’s leader, Mr. Williams is dedicated to maintaining the station's 47-year legacy of curating, promoting, presenting, and preserving this unique African American music genre, and honoring the creative talents who have inspired generations of musicians worldwide. Through its daily programming and knowledgeable on-air personalities, WBGO has built a global community of enthusiasts who help sustain the station’s independence.

“Being honored by Jazz Power Initiative as part of its Syncopated Celebration on May 14 is profoundly meaningful, as it recognizes not only my personal journey but the rich cultural legacy that jazz continues to inspire in all of us,” says Steven about the recognition. “This celebration embodies the spirit of creativity, community, and collaboration that defines jazz, and I am deeply grateful to stand alongside artists, educators, and leaders who are committed to uplifting this vital art form.”

This year’s Changemaker Award will be presented to Lakecia Benjamin, a six-time Grammy Award nominee, and New York-based saxophonist, arranger, composer, and educator.

Ms. Benjamin, a respected musician and bandleader who grew up in Washington Heights, is recognized for pushing musical boundaries and developing a distinctive jazz style that draws from R&B, Latin, and funk influences. The New York Times wrote, “...her sound feels rooted in tradition, yet broad enough to encompass R&B and Latin music; its pronounced funk suggests allegiances to hip-hop and dance.”

A powerhouse virtuoso, Lakecia Benjamin has performed with Clark Terry, Terri Lyne Carrington, Gregory Porter, Missy Elliott, Eli Yamin, and Alicia Keys. She studied with jazz veterans Billy Harper, Reggie Workman, Bob Stewart, and Buster Williams, and was mentored by Gary Bartz.

“I love what Jazz Power Initiative stands for and its mission,” says Lakecia. “It resonates deeply with me, especially since JPI and I are repping Washington Heights! I’m so honored to be recognized by an organization that is very special to me and to the jazz community at large.”

Council Member Carmen De La Rosa will receive the Miranda Family Champion of Arts and Culture Award in recognition of her leadership and support for Northern Manhattan’s arts and cultural landscape through legislation, discretionary funding, and capital investments.

Since entering public service, Council Member De La Rosa has advocated for economic justice and against racism and xenophobia. In 2021, she became the first Dominican woman elected to represent New York’s District 10 at City Hall, expanding her focus to include criminal justice reform, workers’ rights, affordable housing and tenant protections, climate justice, taxing the wealthy, LGBTIA rights, and other significant social justice policies.

“I am honored to be Jazz Power Initiative's Miranda Family Champion of Arts and Culture Award recipient. Supporting organizations like Jazz Power Initiative and investing in Uptown's artistic and cultural community uplifts the talent at the heart of our vibrant district, while removing barriers to entry for our youth. Equitable access to diverse art and cultural exploration not only brings our community together but also creates a holistic learning environment for our future leaders. Our artists, educators, and advocates make New York City a global cultural capital, and I look forward to celebrating 22 years of the incredible impact of Jazz Power Initiative," says Council Member Carmen De La Rosa.

For 22 years, Jazz Power Initiative has addressed the need for increased in-school and afterschool arts education in the communities it serves. With the support of its staff and teaching artists, children ages 6 to 18 in upper Manhattan have benefited from free and low-cost programs in voice, piano, dance, and acting. The organization seeks to broaden these programs and reach more participants through jazz arts education and ongoing intergenerational community concerts. Events like Syncopated Celebration 2026 help raise awareness and essential funds to sustain these valuable initiatives.

Eli Yamin, aka “Dr. E,” co-founder, Managing and Artistic Director of JPI said this about this year’s honorees, and their connection to the communities JPI serves, "We are proud to honor Lakecia Benjamin, an international jazz star who grew up in Washington Heights and has supported JPI for years with her dynamic performances at our Intergenerational Jazz Power Jam series and community concerts. WBGO gave me my first job in jazz in 1986 and set the direction of my life as an artist, educator, and advocate for jazz. For 47 years, WBGO has been carrying the torch for jazz and connecting our global community from Newark to Harlem, Brooklyn to Bonn, Washington Heights to Singapore. We are proud to salute WBGO and its stalwart and supremely resourceful CEO, Steve Williams. Council Member Carmen De La Rosa has long been a fighter for our beloved uptown community to have consistent access to high-quality arts and education. I am thrilled we can honor her as our Miranda Family Champion of Arts and Culture!"

Jazz Power Initiative Syncopated Celebration 2026 is being hosted by 11-time Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist Christian McBride. The event will include performances by Christian McBride, Lakecia Benjamin, and Dr. E, as well as JPI students.

Tanya LeMelle, VP at TD Bank/VP of JPI's Board and event chair, stated, “Through its support of the Jazz Power Initiative, TD helps young people discover their rhythm, their confidence, and their voice—an example of what being More Human truly means. Through its commitment to arts and culture across North America, TD helps amplify diverse voices and creates opportunities for the next generation of artists.”

For details about Jazz Power Initiative’s programs, Syncopated Celebration 2026, or to donate, please visit www.jazzpower.org.

SISTERS NETWORK® INC. TO HOST 16TH ANNUAL STOP THE SILENCE NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN BREAST CANCER 5K WALK/RUN

Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI), the nation’s leading voice for Black breast cancer survivors is proud to announce the 16th Annual Stop the Silence® National African American Breast Cancer 5K Walk/Run. This year’s theme; “The Power of Pink, The Spirit of Strength.” The highly anticipated 5K Walk/Run will be hosted in Houston, TX., on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Tom Bass Regional Park, 3452 Fellows Rd., from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

Regular registration will be open from February 4th to April 18, 2026. The fee is $45/individual and $450/team for of ten. A portion of the funds raised from the walk support the Karen E. Jackson Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP). Established in 2006, BCAP provides much-needed financial support to survivors and pays for 3D mammograms for uninsured and underinsured women nationwide. To date, BCAP has provided over $2 million dollars in financial support and early detection 3D screenings. Participants can register at www.stopthesilencewalk.org.

Black women are 42% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. Black women under 35 are diagnosed with breast cancer at 2 times the rate of White women and die at three times the rate.

First launched in April 2010, the Stop the Silence® 5K Walk/Run is the first and only national breast cancer walk hosted by a Black-founded organization specifically for Black women. The historic walk is hosted during National Minority Health Awareness month and welcomes over 3,000 participants from around the United States who come together to walk in honor, memory, and celebration of the women they love who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Now in its 16th year, the Stop the Silence Walk is a living reminder of what happens when Black women choose community over fear and action over silence. The Power of Pink, The Spirit of Strength, is more than a theme. It symbolizes the power of love we wrap around survivors and the strength and courage it takes to keep showing up for ourselves and each other. We walk united to remember those who lost the battle and to keep breast health at the forefront, because early detection, awareness, access, and support save lives,” said Karen E. Jackson, Founder/CEO, Sisters Network® Inc.

To learn more about the walk and to register, please visit www.stopthesilencewalk.org. For more information about Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI), please visit www.sistersnetworkinc.org or call (866) 781-1808. Follow us on social media, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

ABOUT SISTERS NETWORK® INC.
Sisters Network® Inc. was founded in 1994 by Karen Eubanks Jackson, 31-year, and 4-time breast cancer survivor. Today, SNI is the largest and only national Black breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States and a leading voice in the fight against breast cancer in the Black community. Sisters Network Inc. National headquarters is in Houston, Texas. The organization has over 25+ survivor-run affiliate chapters nationwide, located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Andrew Jacked wins 2026 Arnold Classic

Nigerian bodybuilder Andrew Jacked ( Chinedu Andrew Obiekea) came out on top at the 2026 Arnold Classic! He took home the title and a $750,000 prize. Andrew Jacked faced remained in stiff competition with former Mr. Olympia champion Hadi Choopan, fan favorite Nick Walker, who won the Arnold title back in 2021, and 2019 Mr Olympia Brandon Curry.

Ultimatey Jacked's size, posing routines, and symetry was too much for the competition and he won his first big shwow.<.p>

Top 5 at the Arnold Classic 2026

Andrew Jacked: Winner

Nick Walker: 2nd

Hadi Choopan: 3rd

Martin Fitzwater: 4th

Brandon Curry: 5th

Check out Andrews Jacked's post show interview with RX Muscle:

PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS WILL BEGIN ANNUAL VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE TODAY, ANNIVERSARY OF BLOODY SUNDAY

PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS WILL BEGIN ANNUAL VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE TODAY, ANNIVERSARY OF BLOODY SUNDAY

CALLS FOR NATIONAL JESSE JACKSON VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE

The People’s Organization For Progress (POP) will start its Empowerment Saturdays Voter Registration Drive today, Saturday, March 7, 2026, 3:00pm to 5:00pm on the corner of Broad and Market Streets (near 777 Broad Street) in Newark, New Jersey. 

“POP will start registering voters on Saturday because it is the anniversary of Bloody Sunday when 600 civil rights marchers were attacked and beaten by state troopers and sheriff’s deputies while trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated. 

“When they attempted to cross that bridge they were marching for voting rights and to protest the murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson who was killed by police,“ Hamm said. 

“Jackson had been killed the previous month during a peaceful protest for voting rights. During the march many were hurt including John Lewis and Amelia Boynton Robinson,” he said. 

“However, their struggle was not in vain because the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson five months later on August 6, 1965,” he said 

“Empowerment Saturday is extremely important to me. You see, we do voter registration because many people suffered and died so that we could have the right to vote,” Steven Hatcher, who leads the POP voter registration team, stated. 

“We want to make sure that as many people as possible are able to do so,” Hatcher said. 

“In addition, we are calling this year’s effort the Jesse Jackson Voter Registration Drive in his honor because he continued the fight for civil rights, voting rights, and human rights after the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King,” he said. 

“We would like to see what we are doing at the local level to become a national effort. We would like to see a National Jesse Jackson Voter Registration Drive,” he said. 

“We believe this is appropriate because he inspired millions of people to register and vote, particularly during his 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns,” he said. 

Hamm said that he plans to attend Jackson’s funeral on Saturday in Chicago.

He also said that he will be leaving Chicago to go to Selma, Alabama to participate in the annual march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge that commemorates what happened on Bloody Sunday. 

“We will start registering voters this weekend and we will continue to do so every Saturday, weather permitting, until the cutoff date for registration in October when the drive will end,” he said. 

“Voter registration takes on increased importance in our current environment especially when there are racist and fascist forces in this country that are trying to place limits on our right to vote,” he said. 

“There are Trump administration policies, court decisions, and legislation at federal and state levels designed to interfere with, impede, and even prevent some people from voting,” he said. 

Hamm said the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit to force New Jersey to give up its list of registered voters to the federal government is one such effort. 

“We are opposed to this attempt to seize the state’s voter rolls. We believe that the Trump administration will use that information to engage in some form of voter suppression during the midterm elections,” he said. 

POP is a grassroots, all volunteer organization that works for racial, social, economic justice and peace. Voter education, registration, and participation, have been key activities of the group since it was founded forty-four years ago.