IRVINGTON, NJ — People’s Organization for Progress Chairman Larry Hamm often refers to the members of his grassroots social and economic justice activist group as being his “comrades in arms.”
When a member dies, it is like losing a friend or family member. Hamm and the People’s Organization for Progress will be honoring Douglas Tucker, a member of the group for the last 25 years, with a special memorial service Thursday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Abyssinian Baptist Church on West Kinney Street in Newark. Tucker died Friday, Sept. 8,
“‘Comrade’ is simply a term that people who are in a fight together use to identify and describe each other,” Hamm has said in the past. “It was first used by soldiers long before Communism first existed. When you’re in a war and your life literally depends on the person that’s next to you, you may not like that person, but that person has a special relationship that will never be replicated in life, except by someone else that you may be in a struggle with. So yes, these are all comrades, because we are all in this fight for justice together. It’s beyond friendship. We have a bond that was molded in struggle. So that’s why I’m here tonight.”
Hamm said he and his fellow People’s Organization for Progress members will be out in force at church on Thursday, Oct. 5.
“All who wish to honor a fellow freedom fighter are invited to attend,” said Hamm on Tuesday, Oct. 3. “My friend of nearly half a century and active member of the People’s Organization for Progress, Douglas Tucker, was at the P.O.P. meeting on Thursday, Aug. 31, and the Justice Monday protest against police brutality on Monday, Sept. 4.”
According to Hamm, the memorial service will be the only one acknowledging Tucker’s life and lifetime of service and commitment to his city, community and the world.
“Doug was one of the most committed, active, consistent, dedicated and loyal members of the People’s Organization for Progress. He was especially active in the fight against racial injustice and the oppression of African-Americans and other oppressed people,” said Hamm. “This is the only memorial service for him. The family requested that P.O.P. have this program, because they knew that he was deeply involved and cared about P.O.P. so much.”
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