- United States
- Fla.
- Letter
The arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka during a peaceful protest against the opening of a new ICE detention center is a blatant violation of his constitutional rights. As an elected official, he has a duty to advocate for the interests of his constituents, including immigrants. Subjecting him to arrest and detention simply for exercising his right to protest sets a dangerous precedent and undermines core democratic principles. This heavy-handed response by ICE raises serious concerns about the agency's respect for civil liberties and the freedom of speech. Peaceful protests should never be met with such disproportionate force, especially against public officials acting in good faith. Baraka's arrest seems intended to intimidate and silence dissent rather than uphold the law. I urge you to condemn this unjustified arrest in the strongest terms and demand accountability from ICE for their unacceptable conduct. The opening of this detention center in Newark has already faced significant opposition, and arresting the mayor will only further inflame tensions. Deescalation and open dialogue are needed, not draconian crackdowns on lawful protesters. Immigrants deserve to have their rights protected, not be subject to an unchecked deportation machine. As an elected representative, you have a responsibility to defend constitutional freedoms and stand up to such overreach by federal agencies. The American people are looking to you to uphold these core values.
