Newark Teens Will Lead Anti-War Rally: ‘Schools, Not Bombs’

NEWARK, NJ — A group of Newark teens and young activists plan to hold an anti-war rally at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, at the MLK Statue on MLK Boulevard, about two blocks from Arts High School.

According to a news release from organizers, the rally will be led by youth working with the NJ Anti-War Agenda group and Peoples Organization for Progress and other local peace and justice groups. Speakers will consist entirely of local youths and teens. The rally will also feature music, spoken word and other art-based forms of protest. (Learn more about the May 5 rally here)

In a recent letter inviting youth individuals and groups to participate in the event, Arts High School junior and anti-war organizer Tahir Flournoy said that local youth are being recruited into wars to “fight for a country that is not fighting for us back at home.” (Read Flournoy’s full letter here)

“The solutions for our problems here at home cannot be found in battle fields near and afar… Some of the issues at home that are concerning to youth are lack of funding in schools, as well as allocation of funds in the government. The US government is spending close to $800 billion per year on warfare. Flint’s water system only costs 50 million to fix and yet nothing has been done. In some Newark schools we are also dealing with water just as toxic as in Flint. We need free higher education and training, health care, opportunities doing meaningful work, benefits, livable wages, adequately available recreation opportunities, housing, potable drinking water, and a lack of violence including by the police often against youth members of our communities.”

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Support for the May 5 rally built during a previous anti-war rally on April 26 near Arts High School that involved about 50 students, organizers said.

One of the participants on April 26 was Rakhyriah Foster, who said that instead of spending funds on war, funds collected from taxes should go to public schools.

“I feel good that I took a stand,” Foster said. “I have attended protests before and I honestly think I would attend another.”

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Photos: NJAntiWarAgenda