A celebration of historic event in civil rights history took place in Newark today.

The People's Organization for Progress sponsored the observance of the Nat Turner slave rebellion. 

On Aug. 21, 1831, Nat Turner launched a violent slave rebellion in Virginia, resulting in the deaths of at least 55 whites; scores of Blacks were killed in retribution in the aftermath of the rebellion. Turner was later captured and executed.

"African Americans would not be free today if it were not for those slaves who struggled to bring about the end of slavery. You can't understand what's going on in America today unless you understand Black history, which is an integral part of American History," said Lawrence Hamm, People's Organization for Progress.

Today's event took place in Nat Turner Park which officially opened in 2009.