PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION FOR
PROGRESS (POP)
PO BOX 22505
NEWARK, NJ 07101
973 801-0001
www.njpop.org
CONTACT: LAWRENCE HAMM

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

ACTIVIST GROUP BEGINS ANNUAL VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE ON SATURDAY

The People’s Organization For Progress (POP) will start the Empowerment Saturdays Voter Registration Drive on Saturday, March 1, 2025, 3:00pm to 5:00pm on the corner of Broad and Market Streets (near 777 Broad Street) in Newark, New Jersey.

“This weekend POP will start registering voters and we will continue to do so every Saturday, weather permitting, until the end of the drive in October,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

“We call our registration events Empowerment Saturdays because we believe by registering people to vote we give them the power to participate in the political process,” Hamm said.

“When people are registered they are able exercise their right to vote. They are able to vote for representatives at every level of government. They have a voice,” he said.

“After we register them they can vote in all of this year’s upcoming elections. This includes the school board elections in April, primary elections in June, general election in November, and any special special elections that are scheduled,” he said.

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

“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.

“Voting is a cornerstone of democracy. Every citizen should register and vote in all elections,” Hamm said.

“We must protect our voting rights from those who would circumscribe, suppress, weaken or even take them away from us,” he said.

Hamm said that in recent years many bills have been introduced in state legislatures and Congress that would interfere with, impede, and even prevent some people from voting.

“With all of these efforts designed to diminish the ability of citizens to cast their ballots, voter registration becomes that much more important,” he said.

“At this time many voters may not feel like participating in the political process. However, I urge you to get involved, stay engaged and vote. The costs of not participating are too high and too consequential,” he said.

For more information or to be a voter registration volunteer contact People’s Organization For Progress at 973 801-0001.

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