BY LEV D. ZILBERMINTS
PHOTOS BY FELICIA LAGUERRE OWENS
NEWARK — Hundreds of people attended the No Kings II protest on Saturday, October 18. The protest, which was organized by the People’s Organization for Progress (POP) began at the Lincoln Statue monument, located at 12 Springfield Avenue in Newark.
Many protesters carried signs reading “We need affordable housing,”, “ICE is Fascist”, “Trump go directly to jail – Lock him up,” “We Want Economic Justice,” “Abolish ICE,” “We the People have had enough,” and others.
The crowd, estimated to be between 300 – 500 strong, had white, black, Hispanic, Asian attendees. Older people, middle-aged people and young people all participated in the demonstration. Some parents brought their children with them to the No Kings II protest.
Larry Hamm, chairman of People’s Organization for Progress, gave a powerful speech to the audience. Mr. Hamm said, “Washington, D.C. is under military occupation. Take out troops. Send troops back to their bases!.”
According to Hamm, “several troops resigned in protest” at being told to deploy to civilian areas. Invoking similarities to Nazi Germany, Hamm said, “Trump’s brownshirts are snatching American citizens off the streets.”
According to Hamm, his grandfather fought against the Germans in World War I, and his father fought against the Germans in World War II.
“People really do not understand what a dangerous place we are in this country,” said Hamm.
A representative from the American Civil Liberties Union was the next speaker. According to the ACLU representative, “(Trump’s actions are) the face of attack on civil rights. We will not bow, we will not bend. We will fight back! This administration is chipping away at the very foundation of our democracy. Dissent is not only patriotic, it is our duty,” the ACLU speaker said.
Debra Gregory, the Newark National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) representative, agreed with the previous speakers in their assessment of the situation in this country.
“Despite a president that is hell-bent on creating a fascist, authoritarian dictatorship, we will not yield. We must show up, speak up! Our salaries are not enough. This country, which is considered the most powerful in the world, is collapsing!” Ms. Gregory said in her speech.
Another topic was the tight race for New Jersey governor between Democrat Mikie Sherill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Recent polls have shown the Republican narrowing the gap between him self and his opponent. One poll has shown Congresswoman Sherrill at 53% and Mr. Ciattarelli at 44%. However, in the last couple of weeks, the Democrat’s lead has shrunk to six points. And one conservative poll had the two rivals tied at 44% each.
Reports indicate that New Jersey’s large population of independent voters might well decide this election. With this in mind, Ms. Gregory sought to motivate attendees at the No Kings II protest to turn out at the polls and vote.
“The registered voters of New Jersey have got to show up for the gubernatorial elections. Health care, education are at stake. Our collective effort can make a change. We will not go down without a stand!” Ms. Gregory told the crowd.
Following the speeches, the protesters marched down Springfield Avenue to Market Street, then to City Hall and the Peter Rodino Federal Building. The Stars and Stripes waved in the wind along with the red-black-green flag of Black Power Movement, and the green-red-black-white Palestinian flag. Of interest is that the red-black-green flag was at the front of the demonstration, with the U.S. flag behind it.
As the protesters marched, they chanted, “Hey, hey ho, Trump must go!”, “Dark Ages,” and other chants.
Some of the more original signs during the protest march included “Not chicken to speak my mind!”, “Anti-fascist = Pro – America!”, “No kings, no wars, no empires!” “Reparations now for descendants of African Americans enslaved in America,” “No Kings since 1776”, “I like my government like I like my whiskey. No ICE.”
According to nj.com online story dated October 18, “Saturday’s protests came as Trump faces criticism about his use of the U.S. military in cities, ICCE immigration arrests, and concerns about the ongoing federal shutdown.”
The Wall Street Journal reported on October 18 in its online edition that “more than 200,000 demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C., according to event organizers, while tens of thousands packed Times Square in New York, Grant Park in Chicago and Boston Common.
Organizers, including prominent liberal groups like MoveOn said more than 2,500 rallies and events were taking place nationwide and predicted the turnout would surpass the estimated 5,000,000 people that participated in the first day of No Kings rallies in June.”
According to research done by Local Talk, New Jersey saw rallies in Pine Hill, Glassboro, Pineland, Princeton, Atlantic City, Galloway Township, Montclair, Ocean City, Cape May Court House, Rutherford, Teaneck, Wayne, and numerous other cities, villages and towns.
