In April 1978, Adhimu Chunga, the nom de guerre of Larry Hamm '78, and 200 other student activists flooded all three floors of Nassau Hall to protest the University's investment in South African companies. Though the sit-in lasted 27 hours and prompted 300 other students to rally on campus, the University only partially divested from the corporations.
Twenty years later, Hamm continues his fight against social injustice. Chair of the state-wide Coalition for Justice and the People's Organization for Progress, Hamm has spearheaded a number of demonstrations against what he calls the "two-headed monster" of racial profiling and police brutality that prevails in New Jersey.
"Not only on the turnpike, but also in roads and towns, African-Americans and other minorities are more likely than whites to be stopped and frisked," Hamm said in describing the presence of state and nation-wide racial profiling.
According to Hamm, racial profiling and police brutality go hand in hand.
"Police brutality is as serious a problem as racial profiling, as it leads to serious injury," he said.
Hamm cited several examples of such race-targeted violence that abound in New Jersey — which has gained a national reputation as a racial-profiling state.
In 1999 alone, two cases ignited black grassroots groups to take action. Armaudo Diallo was shot 41 times while opening his front door by policemen who suspected foul play, and Earl Faison was murdered after being falsely apprehended.
Such cases fuel Hamm's desire for social change in New Jersey. In May 2001, he led a peaceful rally in Trenton to demand the New Jersey legislature outlaw racial profiling.
This weekend, Hamm will bring an activist message back to his alma mater.
"What I hope to do is bring these issues to light and, more importantly, try to inspire people to participate in the struggle to eliminate racial profiling and police brutality," said Hamm.
During his speech, Hamm said he will entreat community members to participate in a second march against racial profiling May 15, in Trenton.
He said he wants to encourage students to take on an activist role at a young age. After his freshman year, Hamm left the University to serve as the youngest member on the Newark School Board, grasping the virtues of activism early on.
"Just about everything we as citizens enjoy — civil liberties, social programs — all these were brought about through social activism," he said. "Nothing was handed down by the beneficence of 'rulers.' "
Hamm will speak at 4:30 p.m. in Betts Auditorium Saturday and at the Unitarian Universalist Congre-gation of Princeton shortly after nine and 11 Sunday morning.
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