Newark ‘March For Reparations’ Will Take Place On Juneteenth

NEWARK, NJ — A coalition of groups in Newark plan to hold a march and rally on the holiday Juneteenth, which takes place on Saturday, June 19. It will start at noon at the Lincoln Statue at 12 Springfield Avenue in Newark, near the intersection with West Market Street.

The “Reparations For African Americans march and rally” is co-sponsored by the New Jersey Institute For Social Justice, People's Organization For Progress (POP) and 47 other organizations.

According to a statement from the POP, here’s why organizers are launching Saturday’s rally:

“The demonstration is being held to demand reparations for African Americans for the centuries of enslavement of their ancestors. It is being held to demand passage of the reparations commission bill A711/S322 by the New Jersey State Legislature. And it is being held to demand the passage by Congress of HR 40 and S40 which would establish a federal reparations commission.”

Speakers at the event will include activists, elected officials, and representatives from labor, clergy and the community.

The POP has held an annual “reparations march” every year for several decades. However, this year – in the spirit of unity and in recognition of the Juneteenth holiday – the POP co-sponsored with other organizations to make it happen.

• See related article: Push For U.S. Slavery Reparations Continues In Newark

Some of the organizational co-sponsors include New Jersey Institute For Social Justice, People’s Organization For Progress, Salvation and Social Justice, New Jersey Black Issues Convention, The Inclusion Project-Rutgers University Newark, Black Lives Matter - Paterson, New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, NAACP NJ State Conference, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, New Jersey Policy Perspective, ACLU of New Jersey, NAACP Newark, Fair Share Housing Center, United Black Agenda, City of Newark, New Jersey Working Families, Rutgers University Newark, Garden State Bar Association, and Our Revolution - New Jersey, YWCA Northern NJ, NJ Peace Action, NJ Industrial Union Council.

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