Mayor Ras Baraka. Photo: www.ci.newark.nj.us
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, archival project The North and The People’s Organization for Progress, and community leaders will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Newark Rebellion with a march today from the Newark Rebellion Monument at the crossroads of Springfield Ave., 15th Ave. and Irvine Turner Blvd.
The march starts promptly at 4.30 pm.
The public is invited to join and reflect on the five days of unrest, which was sparked by the arrest and beating of cab driver, John Smith and resulted in 26 deaths, an armed U.S. military response and more than $10 million in property damage.
From the Rebellion monument, the march heads to the Newark Police Department 1st Precinct (10 17th Ave.), and returns to the monument. There will be addresses to march participants by speakers at all the points.
Participants will include Mayor Ras J. Baraka, City of Newark, New Jersey; Councilwoman Mildred Crump, president, City of Newark Municipal Council; Kimberly Spellman, daughter, activist Eloise Spellman; Junius Williams, producer, The North; and, Lawrence Hamm, chairman, People’s Organization for Progress.
This march is one of several anniversary events that have occurred throughout this week. Remaining events include:
July 13 – Summer of‘67 public forum with WBGO Radio’s Newark Today (Hahne’s Building room 213, 8:00 – 9:30 p.m.).
July 14 – An Intergenerational Conversation about the Rebellion (New Jersey Historical Society, 6:30 p.m.).
July 15 – A Forum with Living Legacies of the Rebellion
(Newark Public Library, 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.).
