Photo: Twitter
A march planned for the upcoming birthday of Dr Martin Luther King Jr will target voting rights legislation. The Martin Luther King March For Voting Rights and Racial Justice will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, 12:00 noon beginning at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue, in Newark, NJ.
The march is being called by the People’s Organization For Progress (POP).
“The right to vote in the United States is under attack. We are calling this march to demand passage of legislation that will protect and strengthen voting rights,” stated Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress. “Since the November 2020 presidential election nearly 400 bills have been introduced in 48 states to restrict voting rights, and 33 of these have become law in 19 states.”
“POP will call for passage of the Freedom To Vote Act (S 2747), For The People Act (H.R. 1), and The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4). These bills will protect and strengthen voting rights,” Hamm said. “We will call for the modification and abolition of the Senate filibuster which has been used to block voting rights legislation. Unless this happens it unlikely that any voting rights bills will pass in the Senate.”
“During the march we will call on Congress to pass a voting rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will guarantee every citizen the right to vote. At the march the NJ State Legislature will be called upon to pass a “same day registration” law to make it possible for people to register to vote on Election Day and vote in the election being held on that day,” Hamm added.
The Lincoln statue, where the march will begin, is located at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and West Market Street in downtown Newark.
“We believe if Dr Martin Luther King were alive today he would be on the frontlines of the struggle to protect voting rights. He would be in the streets protesting, marching, engaging in civil disobedience and getting arrested,” Hamm said.
Those who plan to attend the march are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing.
For more information call (973)801-0001.
