We can never give up. Dozens march for MLKs birthday and his push for justice. – NJ.com

The scene was familiar to Nat Williams.

The 88-year-old Korean War combat veteran marched through Newark Saturday with dozens of others, demanding justice and equality in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who would have turned 92 Friday and whose birthday is celebrated as a national holiday Monday.

Williams, a Harlem native, followed Dr. Martin Luther King throughout the 1960s, marching alongside the civil rights leader as Black Americans fought for racial and economic justice. He was there for the March on Washington in 1963 and heard King utter the words: I have a dream.

King was assassinated in 1968 and never saw the end result of his push for justice.

People like Williams never stopped marching.

Even when he was downtrodden and couldnt eat in certain restaurants because he was Black, despite his decorated military service, Williams kept marching, inspired by King.

With a walker and a sign that read, Racism is evil, Williams marched from Market Street up to Broad Street in the Brick City Saturday with more than 50 others.

We just gotta keep pushing, Williams said. We can never give up. This is all about freedom, justice and equality.

The march was organized by Lawrence Hamm, chairman of the Peoples Organization for Progress (POP) civil rights group, to mark Kings birthday. Hamm, along with faith leaders and community activists, spoke to Kings crusade for equality and racial and economic justice, while highlighting that those very issues still exist today in New Jersey and across the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The theme of the march was The People are Suffering, Hamm said, as he called for more coronavirus relief for New Jersey residents.

The dozens that gathered held signs with messages like, Martin Luther King. His Struggle Continues, End Poverty, and Protect Voting Rights. Drivers continually honked throughout the event at signs that read, Honk against white supremacy.

We are here to stand once again to recommit ourselves to the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Hamm said.

Larry Hamm, right, founder ofThe Peoples Organization For Progress (POP)speaks Saturday during the organization'sannual march to observe the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.in downtown Newark. Helping hold the banner at left is POP member Sharon Hand.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Newark, a majority Black city, has long been a place where King has been embraced.

The civil rights icon visited the city less than a year after the deadly 1967 riots. As he made various stops across the city South Side High School, a nursery school, a home of a family on public assistance and multiple churches King delivered a message advocating for economic equality and against the Vietnam War.

The city has honored King over the years. A statue of him stands outside the Essex County Hall of Records. A county office that is under construction will bear his name and be highlighted by a 15-foot statue of King. The federal courthouse is also named for him.

But the issues King was fighting for are still felt by many.

Darell Richardson, a Newark native, said he has been organizing and protesting alongside Hamm since they both attended Princeton University in the 1970s.

This struggle has been going on forever, he said.

The march and the celebration of Kings birthday comes on the heels of a violent mob attacking the U.S. Capitol earlier this month in opposition to the election results that certified Joe Biden as the next president. Inside the Capitol, known white supremacists caused mayhem. One man carried the Confederate flag through the Capitol halls.

Speakers at the march talked about how the images of the mob causing terror inside the government building showed that people are against the equality that King and others fought for and are continuing to fight for.

The things (King) was fighting for have not changed, said Sharon Hand, of Paterson. We are demanding that people pay attention.

Hamm said the people trying to overturn the election are trying to force upon us their vision of what America should be.

We are here today to say that we stand against racism, white supremacy, racist violence, racial inequality, racial discrimination and racial oppression, he said.

The theme this year for the POP's annual march for King's birthday is The People Are Suffering with a renewed call for economic justice in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The speakers spoke about how the country needs to continue to work towards the reforms King pushed for, like economic justice for marginalized communities and to expand voting rights, two issues still affecting people across the country.

Black lives need to matter right now, said Rev. Lukata A. Mjumbe, the pastor at Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church in Princeton. We need economic justice right now.

A police escort led the march down Market Street. Hamm regularly organizes protests in the city, and carries a microphone and speaker to make sure his message is heard.

As he walked with Williams, Hamm led the group in a chant.

What do we want? he asked.

Justice! the group responded.

When do we want it? Hamm asked

Now! they said in unison.

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Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com.

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We can never give up. Dozens march for MLKs birthday and his push for justice. - NJ.com