Queen Latifah To Host ‘24 Hours Of Peace’ Event In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Newark will hold a “24 Hours Of Peace” celebration this weekend, bringing hip hop artists and the community together in an attempt to take a time-out from violence for a day. And the city will get a special boost from Brick City native Queen Latifah.

Latifah and Mayor Ras Baraka will host the city’s annual #24HrsOfPeace, which will take place on Springfield Avenue, between Bergen and Blum Streets from 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2 to the same time on Saturday, Sept. 3.

The free, public event will include local artists, as well as the following headline entertainers performing on Friday:

• Faith Evans
• Fabolous
• CL Smooth
• With a special performance by Co-Founder of 24 Hours Of Peace Hakim Green

Headline entertainers performing on Saturday include:

• Rowdy Rebel
• Fivio Foreign
• G Herbo
• 2Rare

Other attractions at this year's 24 Hours Of Peace celebration will include nearly 200 retail and food vendors, community resource information, a poetry session, a town hall meeting, a hip hop and mental forum, and a midnight movie.

According to city officials:

“The 24 Hours of Peace event uses the hip hop culture to engage the local community and have meaningful dialogue around important issues such as nonviolence and conflict resolution … The annual event advocates a violence-free community by creating a ‘time-out’ for 24 hours, promoting community-building for parents, children, artists, business owners, faith and community-based organizations.”

Latifah isn’t the only celebrity to lend their star power to the effort. Previous "24 Hours of Peace" events have attracted support from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Talib Kweli and Big Daddy Kane. Read More: Snoop Dogg Says Stop The Violence In Newark For '24 Hours Of Peace' (WATCH)

“The 24 Hours of Peace event is more than an occasion to enjoy entertainment, food, poetry and movies,” Baraka said. “It is a time for our residents to unify, to get access to important resources and information, to share ideas and solutions at a town hall meeting, and join together to end violence and move a peaceful Newark forward.”

• See related article: 'Peace Walk' Against Gun Violence Unites Thousands In Newark

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