Activist Group Will Honor Black Civil War Soldiers

By People’s Organization for Progress

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

ACTIVIST GROUP WILL HONOR BLACK CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS AT AFRICAN CEMETERY IN PENNINGTON

Members of the People’s Organization For Progress will journey to Mercer County to honor Black Civil War Soldiers on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025, 11:30am at the Pennington African Cemetery, 413-17 South Main Street in Pennington, New Jersey.

“We are going to the cemetery to pay tribute to the African-American soldiers buried there who served in the Union Army and fought in the Civil War,” Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress stated.

“The courage, sacrifice, and contributions of all the soldiers, regardless of race, who fought for the Union and defeated the Confederacy must be recognized,” Hamm said.

“However, the role of the Black soldiers who fought in the Civil War has not received sufficient examination and recognition,” he said.

“They played a critically important role in bringing about the victory which made freedom for African Americans from slavery possible and the reunification of the nation,” Hamm, a former U.S. Senate candidate, said.

He said that more than 200,000 Black men served in all branches of the military for the Union, with about 180,000 serving in the Army. More than 40,000 were killed.

“Ironically, while they were fighting against the Confederacy to end slavery they also had to fight against racial discrimination, inequality and injustice within the Union ranks,” he said.

Black soldiers had a significantly higher death rate than white soldiers. They received lower pay than whites. They were given inferior weapons, and endured worse conditions.

“And if that wasn’t enough, many times Black Union soldiers couldn’t be buried in the same cemeteries as white Union soldiers,” Hamm said.

He said despite all of this they fought bravely and distinguished themselves on the battlefield when called upon to do so. Twenty-six African Americans received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

“They did not give up because they were fighting for something greater than themselves. They were fighting for the freedom of their people,” Hamm said.

The Pennington African Cemetery was officially established in 1863 although the first grave was dug in 1859.  At least 10 Black soldiers who saw active duty in various battles during the Civil War are buried there.

The Pennington African Cemetery Association will be having a Memorial Day program starting 12 noon at the cemetery.

The Civil War began April 12, 1861 when Confederate troops fired on Union soldiers at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. It ended on April, 9, 1865 when General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia.

To contact the People’s Organization For Progress call (973)801-0001. For information about the Pennington African Cemetery call (609)915-0313 or Angela Witcher (609)751-2802.