Hundreds gather in Long Branch, New Jersey to advance unified Black agenda

Community members gathered Saturday night at Second Baptist Church for the second Statewide Meeting for the Black Agenda. The meeting for the Black Agenda is a grassroots effort focused on shaping policy priorities for Black residents across New Jersey.

Organizers say the initiative aims to mobilize voters and sharpen focus on issues affecting Black communities ahead of the November elections.

The Black agenda in Long Branch

Led by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, the event drew elected officials, faith leaders, and community advocates from across the state. U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver addressed the crowd in person. Civil rights icon Rev. Al Sharpton and NAACP New Jersey President Richard T. Smith delivered remarks via video.

“This moment is bigger than a gathering—it’s a movement,” said Rev. Terence T. Dunlap Sr., pastor of Second Baptist Church. “Our church stands at the intersection of faith and justice, and we are proud to serve as a sacred space where voices are elevated and strategies are birthed.”

Unifying the community

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how to build momentum to advance a collective agenda that will benefit the more than 1 million Black residents of New Jersey, who comprise approximately 12.4% of the state’s population.

Agenda

The meeting focused on advancing a unified Black Agenda that includes:

• economic justice
• housing equity
• Black maternal health
• education reform
• protections for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Organizers emphasized accountability over endorsements, urging elected officials to commit to the community’s needs.

Activists strive for social justice

Rev. Charles Boyer, founder of Salvation and Social Justice, delivered a fiery speech that drew applause and underscored the urgency of the movement. A youth activist called for broader outreach to younger generations, suggesting organizers tap into fraternities, sororities, and social spaces to build momentum.

The gathering follows a June summit in Trenton, where some attendees left without a clear agenda. Saturday’s event aimed to correct that, with leaders pledging to hold candidates accountable before ballots are cast.

Baraka remains a central figure in the movement. “We’re not asking for favors,” he said. “We’re demanding a future that reflects our worth.”

The Black Agenda coalition plans to continue mobilizing statewide, though future meeting details were not revealed.