Georgiana Circle: Women Healing History

Newark Mayor and poet Ras Baraka has been trying to either “make safe” or stop from operating in his town, the Delaney Hall ICE immigration center. Delaney Hall is run for ICE by a private contractor. Mayor Baraka is trying to ensure that Delaney Hall has a proper certificate of occupancy and meets fire codes.

On Friday, May 9, 2025, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security arrested Mayor Ras Baraka and roughed up some of the three congresspeople who were also there to do oversight of the detention center. The act of arresting an elected official is another escalation in the Trump administration’s war on the Constitution. We should be very worried. And, we should help Mayor Baraka overcome the charges against him. Baraka is innocent and ICE should not be interfering and arresting local officials.

There is a story at Democracy Now here:
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/5/12/ras_baraka

This story has especially captured my attention, because, not only is Ras Baraka a poet, he is also the son of Amiri Baraka aka LeRoi Jones. So, I feel it is the duty of poets to stand up for their colleague, and for a poetry dynasty.

My slogan, which I hope to bring on a sign to Newark is: “Poets for Justice. Poets for Baraka. Poets will tell this tale.” You should not mess with poets. We will make people understand, and we will sing our song loud and proud.

Ras Baraka will have his day in court on Thursday morning, May 15th. There will be a gathering of supporters that day at 9:30am at the courthouse. Poets should attend! (And/or bring some poetry to read about freedom and fascism and human dignity.)

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