A. Phillip Randolph Statue at Newark Penn Station
A seven-foot bronze statue of A. Philip Randolph welcomes travelers to Newark Penn Station. Installed on April 15, 2024, on what would have been Randolph’s 135th birthday, the statue pays tribute to the civil rights and labor leader and honors his enduring legacy in championing workers’ rights and racial equality. Artist Sterling Brown constructed the magnificent work of art over seven months.
Randolph organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, the first predominantly Black labor union recognized by the American Federation of Labor. He also played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, notably helping to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
The statue and its installation at Newark Penn were spearheaded by the Essex County chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), with significant support from the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), NJ Transit, and various labor unions and community organizations. Jerry Owens, president of APRI’s Essex County chapter, emphasized the statue’s importance in educating future generations about Randolph’s contributions to labor and civil rights.
Mayor Ras J. Baraka, At-Large Councilman C. Lawrence Crump, and At-Large Councilwoman Louise Scott-Roundtree were among the attendees at the sculpture dedication and the unveiling of the street sign naming the corner of Market Street and Raymond Plaza West “A. Philip Randolph Plaza.”
In his comments, the Mayor highlighted the importance of Randolph’s work saying the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was founded at a time in which African American workers were not permitted in white-led labor unions. “We fought, and now most of labor is integrated the way it should be in this country because of people like A. Philip Randolph,” he said
The statue serves as a daily reminder to commuters and visitors of Randolph’s dedication to social justice and his impact on American history. —TPC Staff
