Thousands of people are planning to flood downtown Raleigh on Saturday to raise awareness about social and economic injustices and send a message to state lawmakers.

The event, called the 6th annual Historic Thousands on Jones Street People’s Assembly, is designed to promote voting rights, jobs, educational equality, equal protection under the law and workers’ rights, among other social justice issues. The event is organized by the NAACP and a coalition of other organizations.

Representatives from more than 125 organizations are expected to participate Saturday. Participants will gather at 9:30 a.m. at Shaw University’s Estey Hall. They will hear from several speakers, including NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous and the Rev. William Barber II, president of the N.C. NAACP.

At 10:30 a.m., participants will march to the N.C. General Assembly Legislative Building on Jones Street.

Local community leaders are organizing a delegation to travel to Raleigh for the event. They hope to have more than 200 people from Nash and Edgecombe counties, said Andre Knight, president of the local NAACP.

“Our message is that our vote counts, and we will not allow the General Assembly to balance the budget on the backs of poor people and minority people,” Knight said.

He has attended the rally for the past six years. Seeing so many people unite under one cause is inspiring, Knight said.

He said cuts to education and high unemployment rates during recent years have been rallying points for many North Carolinians.

“We’re fighting for the next generation,” Knight said.

Reuben Blackwell, co-chairman of the steering committee for the Historic Thousands on Jones Street event, said organizers are expecting delegations from surrounding states, too, including Virginia and South Carolina.

Saturday’s event is part of an ongoing movement with a broad-based agenda, Blackwell said.

“It’s really a progressive effort to ensure that North Carolina is a state that’s looking forward and values all of our residents who choose to live and settle in our borders,” Blackwell said.

The Historic Thousands on Jones Street movement is about bringing people together to move the state forward, Blackwell said. The motto for the movement is “Forward Together, Not One Step Back.”

Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join the local group heading to Raleigh. The group is planning to meet at 7:45 a.m. at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 652 Raleigh Road in Rocky Mount. Organizers will have buses and vans to transport people, Knight said.

Anyone who would like to join is asked to call 252-544-2949 or 212-3460.