4 Fights For ‘Progress’: Newark Social Justice Group Keeps Protesting

NEWARK, NJ — The People’s Organization for Progress (POP) in Newark is holding four separate rallies and actions this week, including its latest “Justice Monday Protest Against Police Brutality.”

On Monday, the POP will hold a rally at 5 p.m. at the federal building at 970 Broad Street.

According to a news release from organizers:

“The rallies spotlights New Jersey’s police brutality cases still crying out for justice, originally including the cases of Abdul Kamal, Kashad Ashford, Jerome Reid, Radazz Hearns, Darryl Fuqua, Jameek Mallory, Maurice Gordon and Hasani Best. More recently, Justice Monday will now also spotlight the cases of Carl Dorsey, Major Gulia Dale III, Thelonious McKnight and the Bridgewater Mall case of teenager Zyke Husain. Husain survived his encounter.”

“This week’s Justice Monday will spotlight the case of Jayland Walker, who was killed by Akron, Ohio police officers on June 27,” advocates said. “Civilian oversight will be a ballot issue in their upcoming elections.”

Here are three other actions the POP will be taking this week, activists said.

POLICE AT POLLING PLACES

On Friday, Oct. 21, the People's Organization for Progress will participate in a press conference condemning a bill being proposed in the New Jersey State Legislature that would allow police officers to be present at public school or senior residential center being used as polling place under “certain circumstances.”

The noon press conference – which is being organized by Newark Communities for Accountable Policing – will take place in front of the Newark office of State Sen. Teresa Ruiz, one of the sponsors of the bill in the Senate, at 166 Bloomfield Avenue in Newark.

According to organizers:

“The bill appears to be a response to the Uvalde incident, but its opponents say that the bill will aid voter suppression. They cite that happening in New Jersey's 1981 elections and the violent role police played in the denial of voting registration efforts in the segregated south. They also cite the current wave of legislation nationally attacking voter protections and access of Black and Brown voters.”

MUMIA ABU JAMAL

On Thursday, Oct. 26, the People’s Organization for Progress will host a bus trip to Philadelphia to participate in an evidentiary hearing for Mumia Abu Jamal, an American political activist and journalist who was sentenced to death in 1982 for the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

The bus will leave from 920 Broad Street, Newark at 6 a.m. To reserve a seat on the bus, call 973-801-0001.

According to organizers:

“The hearing may determine if the imperiled journalist who survived the signing of two execution warrants will at last get a new trial. Convicted of killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1982, Abu Jamal has always maintained his innocence. Documents containing exculpatory evidence have recently been found by the Philadelphia District Attorney. Supporters are calling for a long overdue new trial.”

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION

On Saturday, Oct. 22, the People’s Organization for Progress will host a march as a part of the 27th Annual National Day of Action Against Police Brutality.

Participants will assemble and rally at the Newark Headquarters of the Fraternal Order of Police located at 51 Rector Street Newark at noon. They will then march to the federal building.

According to organizers:

“The POP has pointedly rallied at the local FOP office since their leading role in blocking the use of the important authority of Newark’s new Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) in 2016. The POP is wholeheartedly supporting legislative efforts to have the groundbreaking CCRB’s authority restored legislatively as was incredibly dramatized last year by their epic 67 mile ‘Long March for Justice’ to the State Capitol from North Jersey last year.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.