The Newark-based People’s Organization for Progress (POP) did not wait for President Barack Obama’s announcement on December 1 concerning his decision to send or not to send more troops to Afghanistan. On November 28, POP gathered at the intersection of Broad and Market streets in Newark and called the first Black president out.

“One of the purposes of this demo is we want to send a message to President Obama that we don’t want a troop increase and we want an end to the war in Afghanistan,” stated POP State Chairman Lawrence Hamm.

“A lot of people felt the president would pursue a policy that would lead to a lessening of tensions in Central Asia,” Hamm told the AmNews. “Instead, the White House and the Pentagon are increasing tensions with their troop escalations and the continued occupation of Iraq, and the drone planes being sent into Pakistan, which may be killing innocent people.”