Officials are preparing for the sixth annual #24HrsOfPeace and second annual “Occupy the City” in an effort to curb violence in the city.
The #24HrsOfPeace will take place from Friday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. to Saturday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m., at Broad and Market Streets, and “Occupy the City” will take place Saturday at 5 p.m. Residents will meet up in each of Newark’s five wards, starting at 4 p.m., for an anti-violence walk from their wards to downtown Newark.
Building on the success and support from Newark residents during his “Occupy the Block” events, Mayor Ras Baraka decided to host an “Occupy the City” last year to unite residents from the entire city against despair, violence and crime and to promote peace, hope and empowerment.
Last year, rapper Common and actor John Amos joined Baraka for the event. This year’s lineup includes rappers Talib Kweli, Fat Joe, Big Daddy Kane, singer Carl Thomas and Angela Yee of “The Breakfast Club.”
The anti-violence events come after a series of shootings that have plagued Newark. This week 36-year-old Joshua L. Moore was fatally shot on E. Peddie Street and Frelinghuysen Avenue, making his death the 60th homicide of the year in Newark.
One man was killed and another one was wounded during a shooting that occurred last week in the North Ward. Bilal D. Rodgers, 25, died from his injuries at University Hospital. Police have not made any arrests in that case.
