The Peace and Justice Coalition, a Black-led organization of more than 120 groups dedicated to ending the war on Iraq and the war on our communities, is hosting a mobilization in Newark, New Jersey on August 25, 2007, marking the 44th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1963 march on Washington and I have a dream speech as well as the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. People ask us "Why Newark." And we say:
As in many cities throughout the United STates, Newark is where the war on our communities is being waged. Race and class privilege, indifference to environmental realities, and disregard for human life have led to hunger, homeslessness, denial of basic educaiton, escalating police brutality, and military recruitment of our youth in place of meaningful employment, all at the bidding o the war profiteers.
In coming to Newark, we declare that we no longer look to Washington as the plaec where change must or will happen. We no longer invest our hopes in seats of power that have lead ust o disaster. We are beyond the hope of being saved by our government, and beyond our hope lies actions. This makes us very powerful.
In Newark, we will demonstrate that the beauty and the power are in our streets, in our culture, and in the people. Newark is the people's house, like countless palces across the nation and the globe, plaes targeted for destruction and cast n tthe shadow of greed: New Orleans, Camden, Cincinnati, Harlem, Watts, Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and many others.
We must mobilize for Newark as we would for Washington DC or New York City. This mobiilization defines our solidarity' it makes us the people's movement we yearn to be. Coming to Newark means we walk on the path of Birmingham, Chicago, Camp Casey, and New aOrleans. Newark myst be the next step, but not the last. With each step, we are more inclusive, we embrace each other more fully, and we are stronmger in our march to change. As Studs Terkel says, "We touch and go."
For more info about the event, visit peaceandjusticecoalition.org for more info.
