18 Facts About Lawrence Hamm

Lawrence Hamm was born on December 24,1954 and is an American civil rights activist from Newark, New Jersey.

Lawrence Hamm is the Chairman and among the founders of the People's Organization for Progress, a grassroots social justice organization active since 1982.

Lawrence Hamm often cites inspiration from Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Lawrence Hamm successfully campaigned to heighten New Jersey's minimum wage to $15 an hour, and for a law requiring the investigation of law-enforcement-related deaths in which was codified in 2019 by Governor Phil Murphy.

Lawrence Hamm was born on December 24,1954, to Grayce and Lawrence Sr.

Lawrence Hamm's family moved to Newark when he was 4 years old, the same year his father died.

Lawrence Hamm was 12 years old during the 1967 Newark riots, the destruction and fires of which he witnessed on his front porch with his grandfather.

Lawrence Hamm recalled the two of them discussing his grandfather's experiences with racist Allied French soldiers while overseas in Germany as a soldier in the Great War.

The experience was among many formative experiences that would inspire Lawrence Hamm to begin organizing.

Lawrence Hamm became Student Council President at the Newark Arts High School.

Lawrence Hamm was captain of both the cross country and track and field teams.

In 1971, during the Newark teachers' strike, Lawrence Hamm organized the Newark Student Federation, of which he was the leader and chief negotiator.

Lawrence Hamm considered the offer, discussing it with a friend, before deciding to accept the responsibility.

That year, one of Lawrence Hamm's proposals included the purchase and display of 2,000 Black Liberation flags in Newark schools.

Lawrence Hamm led a sit-in with 210 student participants in the spring of 1978, leading to Princeton's divestment from several aforementioned corporations.

Lawrence Hamm has been vocal about his opposition of Trumpism and its desire to establish minority rule.

On February 17,2025, Lawrence Hamm was among the organizers of a bus trip from Newark to Washington, DC to protest policies and budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration, such as attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion and affirmative action.

Lawrence Hamm is a father of three daughters and enjoys jogging and running.