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

APRIL 7, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

MORE THAN 100 ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSE MARTIN LUTHER KING PEOPLE’S CONVENTION FOR JUSTICE AND RESISTANCE

More than 100 organizations have endorsed The Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice And Resistance that will take place Saturday, April 26, 2025, 8:30am to 4:00pm, at Essex County College, Smith Hall, 303 University Avenue in Newark, New Jersey.

The convention is sponsored by the People’s Organization For Progress (POP). It has been endorsed by 154 grassroots, civic, community, labor, student, religious, racial and social justice organizations.

“When we announced the convention two weeks ago there were about 65 organizations that endorsed the event. Now there are more than 150. That is a very significant increase in support. We hope it continues to grow,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

The convention is open to the general public. Those who wish to attend are encouraged to register in advance. Registration for the convention is now open. There is no registration fee.

People can register for the convention online at Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-martin-luther-king-peoples-convention-for-justice-and-resistance-tickets-1292184000129?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Those who are unable to register online can call the People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001 or send an email to info@njpop.org.

“The mission of labor is to build a better life for our members. This includes protecting our civil and human rights and standing up to injustice against any person,” Charles Hall, President, Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union UFCW stated, whose labor group has endorsed the march.

“The MLK People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance is furthering our commitment as a coalition to speak out against attacks on people, our community, and our rights. We understand that we need to be in this fight together,” Hall said.

"In the spirit of the 1969 National Conference Against Fascism held by the Black Panther Party, our coalition, NJ Communities for Accountable Policing (NJCAP), stands fully behind the united efforts of the MLK Peoples Convention, understanding that the march towards fascism is ultimately moved by the weaponizing of the police,” Zayid Muhammad, lead organizer for NJCAP stated, whose groups has also endorsed the march.

"As the right wing looks to support abusive neo-fascist policing, we will continue to call for accountable policing," Muhammad said.

“350NJ-Rockland works every day for environmental justice, to end the dominance of the oil, coal and gas industries over government and for an urgent shift to clean renewable energy,” Ted Glick, president, 350NJ-Rockland stated.

“Our work with the People’s Convention gives us hope that all of us together will build the power to bring social and environmental health to our communities,” Glick said.

Hamm said more groups are invited to get on board. “We want more organizations to endorse the convention. Groups that are interested in endorsing the convention should contact POP as soon as possible,” he said.

“The purpose of the convention is to develop a people’s agenda for social justice and resistance,” Hamm said.

“The convention is an outgrowth of the Martin Luther King March Of Resistance held in January to demonstrate opposition to all efforts, including the racist, fascist right-wing policies of the Trump administration, to erase the gains of the civil rights movement and the social progress of the past one hundred years,” Hamm said.

The 154 endorsing organizations include: Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union UFCW AFL-CIO, Newark Branch NAACP, Morris County Branch NAACP, New Jersey Black Issues Convention, International Black Women’s Congress, African Diaspora for Justice, New Jersey Poor People’s Campaign, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 21, South Ward Environmental Alliance, 350 NJ-Rockland, Greenfaith International, Hoboken United Tenants, New Jersey Green Sustainable Group, December 12thMovement, Clinton Hill Seniors In Action, New Jersey Peace Action, Cease Fire Now NJ, Jewish Voice for Peace Northern New Jersey Chapter, SOMA Collective for Palestine, Pax Christi, Jersey City Non-Violence Coalition, Steven Institute Students for Justice in Palestine, Elombe Brath Coalition, Omega Psi Phi-Upsilon Chapter, Corey Lewis Teague, Hudson County Sierra Club, Bread Is Rising, Newark North Jersey Committee Of Black Churchmen, Hafiz Farid/Foremost Productions, Food & Water Watch, Marques-Aquil Lewis Civic Association, Black Lives Matter Elizabeth, National United Youth Council, Irvington NAACP, Make The Road New Jersey, New Brunswick Area Branch NAACP, Seton Hall University Martin Luther King Scholarship Association, Tom Paine Brigade, Jersey City Food Not Bombs, Hackensack Riverkeeper, HPAE Local 5089, Bethany Baptist Church, All Politics Are Local, National Black Political Convention, Man Village Men’s Support Group, Islay Walden Education Alliance, New Jersey Communities for Accountable Policing, New Jersey Chapter of the National Action Network, Jumpstart, Journey To Justice, Greater Newark Chapter of the National Action Network, Committee To Eliminate Media Offensive To African People, NAACP New Jersey State Conference, African- American Commission of Camden, Gregory Thomas Foundation, Grandmaster Khalil's Generation II Ippon Do School of Martial Arts, The Law And Policy Group, Mt Teman AME Church, MAPSO Freedom School, Good Neighbor Baptist Church, Newark Interfaith Alliance, The Radical Elders, The Muslim League of Voters of New Jersey, Philadelphia Black Radical Congress, North Jersey Black Caucus for Social Justice, National Action Network - South Jersey Chapter, National Awareness Alliance, Interfaith Action Movement, New Community Corporation, St James AME Church, Melanintellect LLC, Newark’s Impact, Venceremos Brigade Local Committee, Build More Unity, Black Lives Matter Paterson, Justice For Bernard Placide Jr Foundation, Bergen County Black Caucus, Not On My Watch, Go Pro Radio, First Bethel Baptist Church, Palestinian Student Association SHU, COWHN, St John Baptist Church, Jackie Robinson Little League, Street To Street Mentorship, The Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations - Newark, NJ, Union Baptist Church of Montclair, Young Professionals for Justice, The Elorm Ocansey Ministry Foundation, 4 Asbury Park CPC, Greater Asbury Park Historic Revival Project, Whitesboro Historic Preservation Project, Victory Worship Sounds of Praise Church of Harlem, Urban League of Union County, Salvation and Social Justice, First Baptist Church of Carteret, St Peter’s Baptist Church of Newark, NAACP Atlantic City Branch, Masjid Muhammad of Atlantic City, East Orange Old Guard will endorse, Men Of Essex, New Jersey Institute For Social Justice, Homeowners for Equal Justice, Wisdom Shapes Minds, Community Development Corp, WSM associates, Metamorphosis Development Enterprise, RiverSand Development, CS2 Development, CHS Construction Co., Utility Workers Union of America Local 601, The Institute of the Black World 21st Century, Black Cops Against Police Brutality, NAACP Oranges And Maplewood Branch, Brick City Peace Collective, Office of Violence Prevention & Trauma Recovery, National Association of Kawaida Organizations - New York, United Missionary Baptist Convention of New Jersey, CWA Local 1081, American Civil Liberties Union of NJ, Resistance Movement of Union County, Our Revolution New Jersey, Central New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America, Justice for Drew JC, Occupy Bergen County, Make It Plain, Monmouth County - National Action Network, Kickin' it With Brother Ed, Latino Action Network, University of Orange, Unitarian Universalist FaithAction New Jersey, Good Deeds, Islamic Alliance, Until Freedom, Veterans For Peace/Chapter 021
(Northern New Jersey), Frontiers International Plainfield Area Club, The Newark, NJ Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, Teaneck Vigil for Peace and Justice, Leonia Vigil for Peace and Justice, Jews for Palestinian Right of Return, AFSCME Local 2298, A. Philip Randolph Institute - Essex County Chapter, A. Philip Randolph Institute - Union County Chapter, District 1199J, AFT Local 1904 at Montclair State University, PAL-Awda NY/NJ, Lazos America Unida, Faith In New Jersey, REFAL, United Parks As One, Brothers Building A Better Nation, Resistencia en Accion NJ, The Young Voters Association, and NuFamily Foundation, Inc.

For more information or to endorse the convention call 973 801-0001.

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