MAYOR BARAKA TO ANNOUNCE EXPECTED PASSAGE OF CITY LAW

CREATING ‘OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION’ AND BANNING HATE GROUP ACTIVITY ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, AT 2:30 P.M. AT POLICE DIVISION’S 1^ST PRECINCT

Precinct is located at 17^th Avenue and Livingston Street 

Newark, NJ – June 22, 2020—Mayor Ras J. Baraka will hold a press conference on Wednesday, June 24, at 2:30 p.m. to announce the expected passage of a City ordinance creating a permanent Office of Violence Prevention at Newark Police Division’s 1^st Precinct at the corner of 17^th Avenue and Livingston Street.

The Newark City Council, which passed the bill on the first reading two weeks ago, will vote on the ordinance on Wednesday, June 24, the day of the press conference.

The Office of Violence Prevention will manage all City anti-violence policy initiatives and programs and will be initially supported by 5 percent, or about $12 million, of the City police budget. It will eventually be housed in the 1^st Precinct which was the 4^th Precinct in 1967, and the site of the 1967 Rebellion.

“It is symbolic that this building will be transformed into a place of healing,” the Mayor said. “The change of the building’s use represents the progress we have made in reducing violence through community activism and a community-engaged police force.”

WHO:                Mayor Ras J. Baraka

Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose

City Corporation Counsel Kenyatta K. Stewart

City Historian Dr. Junius Williams

People’s Organization for Progress Chairman Larry Hamm

WHAT:          Announce expected passage of City ordinance creating “Office of Violence Prevention” and outlawing hate group activity in Newark.

WHEN:            Wednesday, June 24

2:30 p.m.

WHERE:         1st Police Precinct

17th Avenue and Livingston Street

Newark

Parking is available in the streets and lots in the area.

The ordinance calls for the precinct to be closed by Dec. 31, 2021 and transitioned into a museum chronicling local activism in Newark, a trauma center for the health recovery and healing, workforce development, as well as the Office of Violence Prevention and the headquarters for the Anti-Violence Initiative.

The office will also establish a database of white supremacy and other hate groups in the United States make all hate group activity illegal in Newark.

Media is reminded to wear face masks and keep proper social distance. Street parking is available. An audio mult box will be provided.