Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hamm will host a Town Hall at the All Pros Lounge, located at 53 Virginia Ave., on Saturday at 2 p.m.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I look forward to meeting and talking with people at this event on Saturday. I plan to discuss my reasons for running and major aspects of my platform. I am grateful to those Jersey City residents who put it together,” he said in a statement.
He added that members of Andrew Washington’s family, the man who was fatally shot by a Jersey City police officer this summer after he pulled a knife during a mental episode, will be attendance.
Hamm attended two marches for Washington in Jersey City in September, calling for U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger to investigate the incident at the first one.
“I am going to discuss my campaign within the context of the Dr. King’s fight for Civil Rights and the ongoing fight for racial and economic justice going on today,” Hamm said noting the timing of the event, two days before MLK Day.
“One of the issues Dr. King focused on was police brutality. This problem is still with us today. In fact, the police in the U.S. killed 1,200 people last year. This is the highest number yet.”
A former Newark school board member, Hamm says he will put his track record of fighting for civil rights against anybody.
“I have been involved in struggles against police brutality for fifty years. As a U.S. Senator I will continue this fight within the halls of Congress,” Hamm concluded.
“It will be a top priority issue along with employment, housing, healthcare, education, reparations, voting rights, racial equality and other important issues.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has not said whether or not he plans to seek re-election in the June 4th primary, but his approval rating has plummeted after being indicted on corruption charges by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Accused of accepting bribes, acting as foreign agent to Egypt, and attempting to push through a developer’s deal with the Qatari government, Menendez has pleaded not guilty to all charges and his legal team filed a motion to dismiss yesterday.
First Lady Tammy Murphy, Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) wife, and U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3) have already raised million in their bid to succeed him, with activist Patricia Campos Medina announcing a Senate run last week.