Newark, NJ – In response to the reported arrest and subsequent release of Newark Mayor and Local Progress member Ras Baraka, Essex County Commissioner and Local Progress Board Member A’Dorian Murray-Thomas released the following statement.
“First let me say unequivocally that Mayor Baraka never should have been arrested. Mayor Baraka, someone I know both professionally and personally, is an outstanding advocate for our community and was arrested by ICE as a clear form of intimidation. Since the Trump administration announced its plan to reopen the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, Mayor Baraka has been on site demanding answers and oversight as is his right as the Mayor of our community. Rather than work with him, and the rest of the city government, this administration and its ICE thugs have tried to silence us into complicity. Today’s escalation is a clear message from this federal government that they are willing to use whatever tactics suit them to get what they want.
I’m here to say proudly that we will not back down.
As a board member of Local Progress, a national network of more than 1500 local officials across 46 states, including D.C., I speak for our network when I say we will not be terrorized into submission. Our job is to represent all of our community and that includes our immigrant communities. We reject the Trumpian attempts to divide our nation by pitting us against each other, and will stand with our immigrant neighbors who contribute greatly to our communities. We are working tirelessly every day to lead our communities into the uncertain future, but this president seems more focused on hindering our work than helping it. We know more threats will come but we are ready to protect our communities.
For all the members of the Local Progress network, we stand in complete solidarity with Mayor Baraka.”
