By Lawrence Hamm
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
The People’s Organization For Progress will hold a commemoration of the United States Civil War, Saturday, April 13, 2024, 12:00 noon, starting at the Abraham Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue in Newark, New Jersey.
The title of the event is “The U.S. Civil War And The Struggle For Afro-American Liberation.”
“We are having this commemoration because the U.S. Civil War is one of the most important events in American history. To understand what has happened in this country for the past 80 years and what is happening today you must study the history of the Civil War,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated. “The observance is being held on Saturday because the anniversary dates of the war occur this week. The war began on April 12, 1861 and ended on April 9, 1865.”
“Of course most people know that the Civil War led to the end of slavery and the emancipation of African-Americans. All of the Union soldiers that fought and died in that conflict, and whose victory brought about the defeat of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery should be remembered,” he added.
About 620,000 soldiers were killed during the war which included 360,222 Union deaths and 258,000 Confederate deaths.
“However not as many are aware of the role that African-Americans played in winning the war for the Union and defeating the Confederacy,” Hamm said. “About 220,000 African American soldiers enlisted in all branches of the Union armed forces. More than 60,000 were killed and 100,000 were seriously wounded.”
“Their contributions were critical to the Union victory, and I believe they have never received adequate recognition,” he said.
The Union victory over the Confederacy led to the passage of the 13th amendment which abolished slavery except for those convicted of a crime. That amendment which was introduced after the Civil War, was passed by both houses of Congress, and was ratified by the legislatures of 27 of the 36 states, a three-fourths majority.
It became law on December 18, 1865 after Secretary of State William Seward issued the official statement that it had been ratified by the required number of states.
For more information contact the People’s Organization For Progress (POP) at 973 801-0001.
