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

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.

NO KINGS PROTEST IN NEWARK, NJ OCTOBER 16TH

A No Kings II March And Rally to protest policies of the Trump administration will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, 1:00pm, at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue, in Newark, New Jersey.

The purpose of this protest is to demonstrate continued opposition to
President Trump’s anti-democratic policies. “Trump was elected president but he is trying to be a king,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

“The United States is supposed to be a democracy not a monarchy. Trump is trying to make himself a dictator. He wants to be emperor over an American empire. We don’t want a dictatorship. We want democracy,” Hamm stated. 

“What Trump has been doing since his return to office is an extension of his attempted January 6, 2021 coup. We will be marching to oppose his corrupt fascist, racist and imperialist policies,” Hamm said.

The event is sponsored by the People’s Organization For Progress (POP) and a coalition of organizations which it is a part of that held the Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance in April. 

The demonstration will begin with a rally at the Lincoln Statue. Following the rally protesters marched will march to the Federal Building, 970 Broad Street and then back to the Lincoln Statue where there will be a closing rally.

The No Kings II March & Rally is one of many being organized across the country. Millions of people are expected to participate in protests taking place in more than 2100 cities and towns. The first wave No Kings protests took place in June. 

“In violation of the Constitution, the law, and orders by federal judges Trump has put troops in our cities for no valid reason. Trump’s “gestapo” masked ICE agents are intimidating people, violating their constitutional rights and legal rights, brutalizing them, kidnapping people off the streets, disappearing them to parts unknown, and killing them,” Hamm said. 

“He is attempting to outlaw free speech and criticism of his regime. Trump is attempting to criminalize his opposition and has weaponized the criminal justice system to persecute and prosecute his political enemies,” Hamm said. 

He said that Trump has threatened to have mayors, Congress people, judges and even governors who oppose his policies arrested. That he is trying to exercise control over what is taught at colleges and universities, bullying the media through law suits and political pressure into being his mouthpiece, and has had celebrities who have been critical of him removed from their television shows.

“His administration has forced colleges and universities, government agencies and private businesses to cancel Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. He has supported efforts to weaken the Voting Rights Act, and bolster voter suppression, and gerrymandering. He has shut down the data base on bad cops at the Justice Department and blocked all other initiatives for police reform,” Hamm said. 

“Trump has ordered the African American Museum in Washington DCand other agencies to purge content that does not fit with his white supremacist narrative of history. He has reinstalled monuments to racist, slavery supporting Confederate traitors that had been removed and reimposed the names of Confederate generals on military bases,” he said. 

Hamm said that the Trump administration’s economic policies have led to the layoff of hundreds of thousands workers. This includes 318,000 black women in the last quarter. And the tariffs imposed by Trump have contributed to a rise in consumer prices that have hurt working and poor families.

Also, as many as 15 million people may lose their health care coverage because of his cuts to Medicaid and failure to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. These cuts are going to cause the cost of health care insurance to double, triple, even quadruple for 20 million more. It is also going to cause some hospitals and clinics in urban and rural areas across the country to close.

Hamm said Trump’s refusal to compromise on his proposed budget cuts has caused a government shutdown which may trigger more government worker layoffs. He has done all this while using his office and the government to enrich himself and his family in violation of the emoluments clause of the constitution.

“While increasing oppression at home he has been fomenting war abroad. Trump has continued to arm Israel in its genocidal war against the Palestinians. He is threatening war against Venezuela and other countries,” Hamm said. 

“In violation of United Nations conventions and international law he has attacked and killed civilians on boats in the Caribbean. The foreign policies of his administration continue to perpetuate genocide in Sudan and Congo, and catastrophe in Haiti. For all of the aforementioned reasons and many others Trump must go,” he said. 

For more information go to https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/841639/  or call the People's Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001, 

First African American Cardinal to Celebrate Black History Month in Newark

Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, retiring Archbishop of Washington, D.C., and the first African American Cardinal, will join Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, for the on Sunday, February 16, at 2:30 p.m. in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Cardinal Gregory will serve as the guest homilist, with the Mass livestreamed on the Cathedral Basilica’s Facebook and YouTube pages. The liturgy will also feature songs celebrating the Black Catholic experience and tradition, a procession of banners depicting Black candidates for sainthood, and — for the first time ever — a liturgical dancer performing inside the Cathedral Basilica.

All are invited to attend. Those who own African or Caribbean cultural attire are encouraged to wear it in recognition of their heritage.

“We’re honored to welcome Cardinal Gregory, who has long championed inclusivity,” said Rahsaan Garlin, associate director of the archdiocesan African American, African, and Caribbean Apostolate, which organized the Mass. “Cardinal Gregory has shown through his leadership that the Catholic faith transcends ethnicity and color. We are all equal in the Church, and his example reinforces that.”

Cardinal Gregory’s visit follows his recent retirement as Archbishop of Washington, D.C., where he has served since 2019. He previously served as Archbishop of Atlanta and Bishop of Belleville, Illinois, among other leadership roles in the U.S. Church. A long-time advocate for social justice and marginalized communities, he was also the first Black bishop president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.). During his tenure, he oversaw the 2002 implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in response to the clergy abuse crisis.

As part of Cardinal Gregory’s visit, the apostolate is sponsoring an essay contest for juniors and seniors in archdiocesan high schools who are of African American, African, and Caribbean heritage. Students are invited to write about three aspects of the Mass that stood out to them. Several winners will receive prizes.

“We hope African American, African, and Caribbean young people will find inspiration in Cardinal Gregory’s visit,” Garlin said. “Many may not realize that an African American cardinal exists. Seeing someone who looks like them in such a prominent Church role sends a powerful message that they, too, can achieve great things in the Church.”

In addition to the Black History Month Jubilee Mass, the African American, African, and Caribbean Apostolate is planning other initiatives for the year ahead, including a March faith retreat for Black families and the annual Bishop Francis Luncheon in September. It will also continue to seek out ways of engaging African American, African, and Caribbean youth. Most recently, the apostolate held a bowling night to encourage interest in religious vocations.

To learn more about the African American, African, and Caribbean Apostolate and its mission of serving the Archdiocese of Newark’s Black Catholic community, visit www.rcan.org/aaaca/.

Mildred Crump a Newark political pioneer and icon has died

Mildred Crump, a longtime Newark councilwoman and pioneer for Black women in city politics, has died at age 86.

Crump became the first Black woman elected to Newark City Council in 1994 and the first Black woman named council president in 2006. She served as a Councilwoman from 1994-1998, and again from 2006-2021.

Crump became the first Black braille teacher in Detroit, her hometown, before relocating to the Garden State. She was also a founding member of the New Jersey Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., the National Political Congress for Black Women of Newark, and the Global Women’s Leadership Collaborative of New Jersey, dedicated to women’s issues in Africa.

[SOURCE: NJ.COM]

Melba Moore To Be Honored In Newark, NJ With a Street Named In Her Honor

The Honorable Newark, NJ, Mayor Ras Baraka and Councilwoman At Large, the Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree will present a street renaming dedication, honoring The Marvelous, Tony Award-winning, Grammy nominated R&B legend, The Marvelous Melba Moore.

The event is taking place on Friday, September 8th, 2023, 11 am ET, at the intersection of William and Mercer Streets in Newark, NJ – across the street from Ms. Moore’s alma mater, Arts High School. The street will be renamed Melba Moore Plaza.

This has been a banner year for The Marvelous Melba Moore. She appeared on The Tamron Hall Show, walked the runway for the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women event, released a new single - a remake of the Ashford & Simpson R&B classic, "It Seems To Hang On", as well as earning a Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on August 10th, 2023.

Building in Newark to be renamed after Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver

Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, the first Black woman elected to statewide office in New Jersey history, was remembered in a memorial service Saturday as a trailblazer who fought to help those in need.

During the funeral service Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo announced the county’s family assistance and benefits building in Newark will be renamed after Oliver and there will be a bust of her displayed at the county courthouse in the city.

Witness says he has new information about Malcolm X assassination

Attorneys representing the family of Malcolm X revealed what they call a star witness Tuesday in their ongoing legal pursuits related to his assassination in 1965.

The witness said he had new information he could provide, all these years later.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ben Crump (@attorneycrump)

Newark's Shakur Stevenson stops Shuichiro Yoshino to become mandatory challenger for the WBC lightweight title

After winning titles at featherweight and junior lightweight, Shakur Stevenson moved up once again, this time to face Shuichiro Yoshino in a 12-round WBC lightweight title eliminator in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday. Stevenson finished Yoshino in the sixth round of a one-sided bout to become the mandatory challenger to the WBC lightweight title. [SOURCE: ESPN]

The Martin Luther King “We Won’t Go Back” March To Be Held In Newark

The People’s Organization For Progress is sponsoring The Martin Luther King “We Won’t Go Back” March that will be held on Martin Luther King's actual birthday, Sunday, January 15, 2023.

The organization will be marching to protest racism, sexism, facism, and war.

The march will begin at 2:00pm at the Martin Luther King Statue, 495 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Newark, NJ.

For more information call POP at (973) 801-0001. Contact POP if your organization would like to co-sponsor this event. Please wear masks and practice social distancing.

The People's Organization for Progress works to empower communities and fight for their needs. P.O.P. confronts issues about equality, justice, poverty, racism, umemployment, affordable housing and education, violence(of any sort), etc., as well as local, national, and international issues.

Newark NJ Residents March Against Violence

Newark residents took to the streets Saturday for a citywide peace walk.

The walk was a call to action for business leaders, the community and families to help end gun violence.

March For Jayland Walker to be held in Newark NJ

The People’s Organization For Progress (POP) will have a march and rally to demand justice for Jayland Walker on Friday, July 15, 2022, 5:00pm starting at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue in Newark, New Jersey.

The Lincoln Statue is located at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and West Market Street.

Mr Walker was killed by Akron, Ohio police on June 27, 2022. He was unarmed when police fired 90 rounds hitting him 60 times.

“The manner in which Jayland Walker was killed, the amount of force and number of bullets fired was abominable and should be condemned by people of conscience across the country and around the world,” stated Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress.

“The officers who killed Mr Walker must be held accountable. They should be fired immediately and prosecuted at both the state and federal levels,” Hamm said.

Newark NJ renames park after Harriet Tubman

Newark marked Juneteenth Monday by renaming a park after American abolitionist and activist Harriet Tubman.

Mayor Ras Baraka unveiled the name change of Washington Park to Harriet Tubman Square.

Queen Latifah breaks ground on Rise Living housing development in Newark NJ

Queen Latifah (Dana Owens) joined Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Tuesday at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new mixed-used project she is partnering with local developers to build in the city’s South Ward.

12-year-old Prosperity Wilson from Newark is missing!

UPDATE:Prosperity has been found and is safe! MISSING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN NEWARK FOUND SAFE

Police in Newark are desperately searching for a missing 12-year-old girl who struggles with her mental health.

Prosperity Wilson was last seen just before 4 p.m. Tuesday on the 100 block of 4th Avenue.

Wilson suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

She is 5'2" tall and 234 pounds. She has a light brown complexion, short brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a tie-dyed hooded sweatshirt, gray tights, black and red Jordan sneakers, and she was carrying a pink and blue book bag.

Director O'Hara urges anyone with information about the whereabouts of Prosperity Wilson to call the Department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.

The People’s Organization for Progress To Hold March Voting Rights On MLK Birthday In Newark

A Newark group is planning to hold a march on Saturday, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., in support of voting rights and several social justice issues.

The People’s Organization for Progress (POP) is spearheading a rally at noon. It will begin at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue in Newark. Those who plan to attend the march are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing.

“The right to vote in the United States is under attack,” POP Chair Lawrence Hamm said. “We are calling this march to demand passage of legislation that will protect and strengthen voting rights.”

“Since the November 2020 presidential election nearly 400 bills have been introduced in 48 states to restrict voting rights, and 34 of these have become law in 19 states,” Hamm continued. “The POP is calling for passage of the Freedom To Vote Act (S 2747), For The People Act (H.R. 1), and The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4). These bills will protect and strengthen voting rights.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka tests positive for COVID-19

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka tested positive for COVID-19, he said.

The mayor said he is asymptomatic, and so far his family has not tested positive for the virus/

I tested positive for COVID yesterday and thankfully my wife and son tested negative. By the grace of God I'm okay and have no symptoms at all. I'm going to retest on Friday and Monday as well, and I thank everyone for your well wishes. Please wear your masks and get vaccinated!

— Ras J. Baraka (@rasjbaraka) December 22, 2021

Newark NJ’s Shakur Stevenson wins super-featherweight championship

In just his 17th professional fight, 24-year-old Newark NJ native, Shakur Stevenson stopped veteran Jamel Herring in 10 rounds to take Herring’s WBO 130-pound title.

Stevenson has now won major belts in two divisions.

“I feel like Jamel Herring is a great fighter. He’s tough. He’s real tough, he’s got great boxing skills, he’s got great power. I was just the better man tonight,” Stevenson told ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna. “Now that we’re not fighting, I love Jamel Herring, he’s definitely my friend. I don’t got no problem with Jamel. Tell his wife I’m sorry, I don’t want no trouble with you! She’s tough.”

New $77M court building in Newark named after Martin Luther King, Jr.

A new $77 million building along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Newark that houses 11 new courtrooms and offices for elections officials opened on Thursday.

The facility is called the Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building and a 22-foot statue of the late civil rights activist stands outside the structure. Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Jr. said naming the structure after King was a natural fit since it’s located next to a plaza and a smaller statue that was dedicated to him in 2015.

The third and fourth floors of the building will house courtrooms for tax and general equity courts, which were formerly located in the Wilentz Justice Complex on Washington Street. The first and second floors will have offices for the Essex County clerk, superintendent of elections, board of elections, surrogate and the board of taxation.

Gov. Phil Murphy said naming the building after King was a step in the direction of gaining equality. Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver also said King “would be proud” of the project.

“Just over a year since the murder of George Floyd, we are on that long road to pursue equality and justice,” said Murphy. “And this building - in the name of an American hero unlike any other - is a huge step forward in that direction.”

The King statue that sits outside of the new building is made out of bronze and sits on an 8-foot-tall granite pedestal. It was created by Jay Warren, from Oregon, who also sculpted the smaller King statue that sat outside the neighboring county Hall of Records. The smaller statue was moved to the back of the new building.

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools,” the engraving on the pedestal reads, quoting King. “But I know somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars. I have decided to stick with love, hate is too great a burden to bear. Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”

The project was funded through Essex County’s capital budget. Construction started in May 2020 and was completed in 13 months.

[SOURCE: NJ.COM]