Mayor Ras Baraka, who launched the event as a South Ward councilman in 2012, said he hopes to attract more participants with a new location at Market and Broad streets Watch video
NEWARK -- Ras Baraka launched Newark's 24 Hours of Peace celebration in 2102 as a city councilman from the South Ward, and the annual event was held there on Clinton Avenue for its first four years.
But Baraka was elected mayor in 2014, and now has the entire city to pacify. So to help spread his message of peace to a broader audience, he is moving the gathering to promote non-violence to a higher-visibility location downtown, at the intersection of Market and Broad Streets.
"We're trying to raise the voice of it, make it louder, allow people the opportunity to get more involved in it," Baraka said Wednesday, following a press conference announcing the 2016 event this coming weekend. "I think on Clinton Avenue we created a group of people that will always know about the 24 Hours of Peace, they come there regularly. So we need to spread it out some. And that's exactly what we're trying to do, to create a city-wide movement -- hopefully statewide -- where people start talking about peace and life instead of death."
The event was conceived by Baraka while he was a city councilman in the wake of a bloody 24-hour period in 2010 when 12 people were killed in Newark.
And even the annual 24 Hours of Peace can be marred by violence. Last year, two men were killed elsewhere in Newark while the event was taking place.
The event will be true to its name, lasting from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday, with remarks by Baraka and others, as well as entertainment on a stage on a north-facing stage on Market Street just south of Broad.
Featured acts include hip-hop artist Big Daddy Kane, rapper Fat Joe, and r&r singer Carl Thomas. Organizers posted a video on the city's YouTube channel featuring Snoop Dogg calling on Newark to "Stand up!" and attend the event.
Hassan Sharif, a promoter from Newark who is co-producing this year's event, said Snoop had a prior commitment this year, but had assured him he would perform at 24 Hours of Peace in 2017.
"Next year, he's committed already," Sharif said.
A large video screen will also be set up to show screen films, and at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, it will be used to broadcast a match by Olympic boxer and Newark native Shakur Stephenson.
Market Street will be closed to traffic from Mulberry to Washington Street for te duration of the event, while Broad will be blocked at Raymond Boulevard and Lafayette Street.
Baraka acknowledged that the closures are likely to be "an inconvenience" for some, particularly commuters during the Friday evening rush hour, when Newark traffic is typically backed up even with those roads open.
The council's current South Ward representative, Councilman John James, said he supported the event's move downtown. James said a separate peace rally held at Newark and Broad last summer was a "huge success," and that the well-known intersection was ideal for a 24 Hours of Peace celebration aiming to appeal to the whole city.
"Overall, we would like peace on our streets," James said, referring to all his council colleagues, the mayor, and the entire Newark community.
James noted that his ward would still host an individual peace gathering this weekend, when residents will assemble at the George Washington Carver School for a march to Market and Broad. Each of the others will hold similar marches.
Other council members also applauded the new downtown location.
"It opens it up to the whole city," said West Ward Councilman Joe McCullem.
Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.