The People’s Organization For Progress (POP) will journey to the capital of the Garden State to attend a rally that will address concerns of African Americans. The group is taking people by bus to the event.
The Black Agenda Rally will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, 10:00am on the steps of the Statehouse, 125 West State Street in Trenton, New Jersey.
The rally is being called by a broad coalition of elected officials, religious leaders, community activists, labor representatives, civil rights advocates, and concerned residents.
People are mobilizing statewide for the rally. Buses sponsored by different organizations will converge on the state capital for this event.
The POP sponsored bus to the rally will depart Thursday morning 7:30am from 15 South Orange Avenue in Newark. People are advised to arrive at 6:30am. The bus is free. Seating is on a first come first seated basis.
“The purpose of the rally is to demand passage of legislation and formulation of policies that address issues of concern to the Black community,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.
“The People’s Organization For Progress supports the Black Agenda Rally. We believe that this is an appropriate response to the plight of African Americans and the worsening conditions in our communities,” Hamm said.
“That is why we have participated in the organizing effort for the rally. That is why we are sponsoring a bus to bring people to the rally. We believe that it is important for as many people as possible to attend,” he said.
The rally is being organized around the Black Agenda platform. This document evolved out of a series of meetings held around the state last year by Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark and other Black organizations in the aftermath of his campaign for governor.
Hamm said that while POP supports the Black Agenda it has also been involved in efforts to create a “people’s agenda.” On April 26, 2025 it was the sponsor of the first Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance.
The convention, which was endorsed by more than 300 organizations, issued an agenda containing the 27 resolutions it passed on a variety of social justice issues. Mayor Baraka spoke at that convention during the gubernatorial candidates forum that was held there.
The 2nd Martin Luther King People’s Convention for Justice and Resistance was held on September 26, 2026. That convention, which was endorsed by 245 organizations, passed more than 20 resolutions.
“At the second convention it also adopted the Black Agenda, in its entirety, around which the rally in Trenton is being organized. The Black Agenda will be included as part of the agenda of the second convention when it is issued,” he said.
“We are very excited about the Black Agenda Rally. We hope that everyone will come. And we hope that it will excite people and inspire them to vote in the upcoming midterm elections,” Hamm said.
For more information about the POP bus to the Black Agenda Rally in Trenton call People’s Organization For Progress at (973)801-0001.
For more information about buses leaving from other parts of the state people can go to the African American Chamber of Commerce registration site.
