TEWKSBURY - Newark Mayor Ras Baraka barnstormed the state this weekend as he made his closing argument to voters in Tuesday's Democratic Primary for Governor. Baraka hit the big cities, and he hit the small towns, the big halls and the backyard barbecues.

North and South.

On this Sunday morning, he connected with the impassioned members of the Tewksbury Democratic Party, who are worried about their country under the leadership of President Donald Trump and see Baraka as a hero for doing what the late, great John Lewis advised when he told justice seekers everywhere to "get in good trouble."

The feds arrested Baraka last month when he tried to ascertain compliance with local laws of the privately run Delaney Hall in his home city of Newark. Baraka noted that Trump's Department of Justice doesn't prioritize the U.S. Constitution. His cronies prize loyalty to Trump and his political agenda, which includes turning New Jersey red.

"I took an oath swearing allegiance to the country by the authority of the people," Baraka told an enthusiastic backyard crowd here. "It doesn't say oath to the president. Primarily, the duty of elected officials is to uphold the Constitution. Anything that goes against that, you should oppose deliberately and directly."

So, that's what he's doing, and his backers here love him for it.

Now, he needs their help.

"It's about the get- out-the-vote campaign, talking to the base and getting out to vote," Baraka told InsiderNJ.

This party took place about a mile from the garish gates of Trump's golf course in Bedminster.

But "I'm not in his backyard, he's in my backyard," the mayor said. "New Jersey is a Democratic state, I don't care what people say. History has always borne out that we are going to win. He's on the losing side. There are some people here in New Jersey who support him, but they're wrong."

Baraka made this campaign appearance this morning against the backdrop of what he cites as more abuse of power by the President.

Via CNN: "300 National Guardsmen are deployed at three locations around Los Angeles, the California governor’s office said this morning. It follows a presidential memorandum signed by President Donald Trump Saturday, sending 2,000 National Guardsmen to disperse protests sparked by immigration raids."

The mayor saw parallels with Delaney Hall, as Trump's minions operate not according to the Constitution but the President himself.

"The president takes control of the National Guard and sends 2,000 Nati0nal Guard troops into LA," he told the crowd. "This is a very dangerous period of time. If you watch those images it should give you the chills.

"We have to pray fear doesn't turn us into cowards," Baraka added. "The reality is these folks are trying to push their political agenda by force. My presence [at Delaney Hall last month] was simply about me ensuring they follow local ordinances. You need to fil out a certificate of occupancy. These are not unreasonable asks. ...It's ok if they disagree with us and say they don't need a certificate of occupancy and we say 'You do,' but then let's settle it in a court. That's why we have courts in this country. When the court has no authority we no redress and no recourse and that is when you have authoritarianism of a kind we haven't seen for a very long time in this country. When you have a U.S. Attorney who says, 'I'm going to turn the state red.'"

That means that U.S. Attorney cares more about politics than administering justice, Baraka said.

For more of the Mayor's closing argument please see the video below: