Panelists stand in the Bethany Baptist Church during the POP forum on voting rights and political participation in Newark on Oct. 9th, 2026. (Photo credit: Hali Cooper)
The People’s Organization for Progress (POP) held a series of public forums across New Jersey addressing voting rights, political participation, and the civil rights challenges faced by communities in the U.S., particularly Black Americans.
The forums, titled “The Attack on Voting Rights and the War on Black People,” kicked off on July 18th in Plainfield, then held numerous forums in various communities in New Jersey, including Montclair, Plainfield, Newark, Maplewood, Hackensack, and East Orange. Its most recent forum was on November 9th, in Newark.
The series brought together community activists, elected officials, clergy, students, and educators in a broad public discussion that raised contemporary issues in historical context.
In addition to voting rights, the forum also examined a range of political, economic, social, and education issues affecting Black Americans. Racial disparities in employment, policing and racial violence, and the future of diversity and inclusion programs were among the many topics discussed by speakers.
The Newark forum focused on concerns surrounding the Election Assistance Commission and potential interference with election administration. “The thing that I thought about today was that all of these forums were urging people to come out and vote in this election and in record numbers, and that’s kind of what happened,” Hamm said. “It’s kind of rare when you urge people to do something and it actually happens. And that’s what happened.”
A major focus of the forums was the US Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which POP suggests could have significant consequences for congressional redistricting and Black political representation. Hamm warned that changes to congressional maps could reduce the number of districts in which Black voters may have an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.
Additionally, the forums also addressed concerns about election administration and the possibility of federal law enforcement or troops being deployed in polling places. Members of POP oppose such measures, arguing that the presence of federal agents could intimidate voters and limit participation.
“We are having these forums to discuss the relentless efforts being made to interfere with, impede, and even prevent citizens from freely exercising their voting rights,” POP chairman Lawrence Hamm said. “We are also examining the particular impact this will have on the Black community and what can be done about it.”
Hamm said he was pleased with the turnout, especially considering that state and midterm elections typically see lower participation than presidential elections. “I heard one commentator say that the voter turnout was equal to the voter turnout for the presidential election. This is what pleased me the most, that people did it without a lot of fanfare.”
“It doesn’t mean the struggle is over, but it might be the beginning,” Hamm said.
The number of youth attendees also surprised Hamm, with some forum audiences made up significantly of young people.
“I was glad to see young people come out and present,” Hamm said. He pointed to a forum in Jersey City, where young people made up roughly one-third of the audience after professors encouraged their students to attend.
“Before this experience, I never fully realized how important voting is or how much of an impact it can have. It made me realize that many young people believe their vote doesn’t matter, which can lead them to stop caring or even stop informing themselves about politics altogether. As the next generation, we need to understand that our opinions matter and that our participation can help shape the future,” said Keiry Nunez Duran, a freshman SPU student.
Looking beyond the forums themselves, Hamm hopes attendees will become more involved with POP and continue participating in civic organizing. Three committees have been formed from people who signed up at the forums, and POP plans to activate them over the next several months.
There will be no additional forums during November and December, as this time period will be used to organize and activate the committees formed during the series.
Throughout the series, POP urged residents to increase civic engagement by ensuring every vote is counted and by becoming more involved in efforts to defend voting rights and democracy. POP continues to advocate for civil, voting, racial, and economic rights, as well as increased civic participation throughout New Jersey.
