The Historic March on Jones Street (HK on J) in Raleigh is still going strong on its sixth year and this time no one is holding back from their freedom of speech.
On Saturday February 10, masses of people gathered with signs and sticks to protest injustices at the HKonJ
According to the allevents website in Raleigh the march was intended to pin-pointed 14 different demands such as: education, minimum wage, healthcare, redressing north Carolina’s racist acts towards African American women, election rights, HBCU, redress racial profiling in employment, providing affordable housing, abolish racially biased death penalty, environmental justice, Collective Bargaining for Public Employees, protecting the rights of immigrants, Organize, Strengthen and Provide Funding For Our Civil Rights Enforcement Agencies and Statutes, and bringing our troops home. All of these things are the significance of the march of HKonJ.
the walk was created by the NAACP to point out these issues in a non violent manner to get voices heard. This is the sixth year that the HK on J has done from Estey to Jones Street. This walk and the honor of the walk was located at the first HBCU located in the south to start many other HBCU’s is the almighty Shaw University.
“We stand for all colors and not just one,” Shaw University NAACP Treasurer Na’eem Wilkins said in answering the question what is the real meaning on HKonJ? He expressed that the march is for equality, poverty, equal rights. The walk is for all races who wants justice not just one particular race. The purpose is that currently things are not right and that NAACP wants to help get them right. Wilkins leaves with his last statement noting “Within unity there is strength,” and that us as a school should become united as one.
The impact on the audience members was one that was long-lasting. Student at Shaw University Nyasha Cooper spoke out by telling “I was inspired by all the cultures and races came out to join as and community.” Many people gathered in excitement in the manner of fighting for their justice. Cooper said she saw a sign that read “We didn’t vote for your major so why vote for ours,” this grabbed attention to Cooper because she noted that she felt education is big and everyone deserves fair education around America.
In reference, HKonJ was a huge success on its 6th annual year running. It has inspired many citizens to be aware of what is going on in their city; to be involved to fight for the injustices and to carry on the march. As Rev. Dr. Williams J. Barber, II, NC NAACP President, and HKonJ Convener quoted “WE is the most important word in the social justice vocabulary. WE win when WE stand up for social justice and equality.”