Ras Baraka compares himself to King David in speech to supporters following arrest
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka made headlines last week when he was arrested at a federal immigration center during a protest. He compared his arrest to the biblical story of King David, calling it “our David moment” during a political rally in his city. Baraka defended his tactics, saying they were “absolutely effective” during a Democrat primary debate for the race for governor in New Jersey.
At the rally, Baraka told supporters that he had no control over his arrest at the immigration detention center. He explained that his body involuntarily froze when he was told he was going to be arrested for trespassing at the facility. He could have run away, but he chose to stay and face the consequences.
The arrest occurred during a protest at Delaney Hall, attended by three members of Congress who were there to perform oversight duties related to federal detention facilities. Baraka and the lawmakers rushed through the gates and past security when an ICE bus entered the facility, leading to their arrest.
Baraka also joked about his arrest at the rally, referring to himself as a “returning citizen” or “formerly incarcerated.” He expressed disbelief at having to go to court and provide personal information to authorities. Despite making light of the situation, Baraka confirmed that he was back at the detention facility and participated in a pretrial intervention phone call ahead of his court hearing.
Media reports have indicated that Baraka plans to plead not guilty to the charges. The Newark mayor remains defiant in the face of legal challenges, standing by his actions and continuing to advocate for immigration reform.
