Photos: Video Screenshots\Facebook
The People’s Organization For Progress (POP), a grassroots civil rights group, has endorsed a march to protest the death of Andrew Jerome Washington III, who was killed by Jersey City police three weeks ago.
The “JUSTICE FOR DREW” March & Rally, which is being called by the family of Andrew Washington, will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.
The march to City Hall begins 4:15 pm at 256 Randolph Avenue, which was the home of Mr. Washington, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The rally begins 5:00pm on the steps of City Hall, 280 Grove Street.
A City Council meeting being held that evening begins at 6:00pm. People are being urged to attend the meeting, sign up to speak, and demand justice for Mr Washington and an end to police brutality.
“The People’s Organization For Progress endorses and fully supports this march for justice that is being called Andrew Washington’s family. We urge everyone who wants justice for ‘Drew’ and an end to police brutality to attend,” stated Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress.
POP is one of a number of organizations supporting the march that includes the National Action Network, Build More Unity, Panther Solidarity Organization, N-CAP (Newark Communities For Accountable Policing) and others.
“We must not let the death of Andrew Washington be swept under the rug. We must protest. We must make our voices heard and our demands known,” Hamm said. “The officers who killed him must be held accountable for his death. Changes must be made to policing in Jersey City so that this tragedy does not happen again.”
“We support the demands that have been put forward by the family and those that have been advanced by the supporting organizations. We also call upon the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey to launch a civil rights investigation into Mr Washington’s death, and the establishment of a Jersey City police review board,” Hamm said.
Mr. Washington was killed by Jersey City police on August 27th while he was having a mental health crisis. Several days later the family held a candlelight vigil for him that drew hundreds of people from the community.
More than a week later a rally to demand justice for Mr Washington was held at Berry Lane Park. It was sponsored by Build More Unity and the Panther Solidarity Organization, both Jersey City based groups.
Members of Mr. Washington’s family, representatives of the People’s Organization For Progress, Hudson County Anti-Violence Coalition, Black Lives Matter, and other groups participated in that event.
The funeral for Mr. Washington was held on Saturday, September 9th at St John’s Baptist Church in Jersey City. The eulogy was given by civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton.
For more information about the march and rally planned for Wednesday contact Ms. Toni Ervin, Mr Washington’s aunt, at (862) 234-9702. To contact the People’s Organization For Progress call (973)801-0001.
