MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA STATEMENT ON NEWARK POLICE

EXERCISING GREATER SPAN OF CONTROL OF DELANEY HALL AREA

“Starting tonight, the City of Newark Police Department will exercise a greater span of control of the Delaney Hall area. Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, Sr. will be intricately involved in enforcement decision-making to implement the department’s effective community policing tactics and safeguard the well-being and rights of demonstrators. The police tactics over this last weekend were overly aggressive, unnecessary, and in some instances unconstitutional.

“The City of Newark sees protests all the time and we have our own way of policing based on community relationships, the integrity of protestors and upholding personal freedoms. It takes all of us to stand against the injustices of the GEO group and ICE and the plight of innocent people incarcerated at Delaney Hall.

“In response to recent events, the City implemented a curfew as a measured step to safeguard both residents and peaceful demonstrators. Despite these efforts, we have witnessed continued escalation. We do not support approaches that unnecessarily heighten tensions, particularly when civil rights, public safety, and the well-being of this community is at stake.

“The curfew remains in effect until further notice, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., in the areas between:

Wilson Avenue and Doremus Avenue

Roanoke Avenue and Doremus Avenue

Avenue P and Doremus Avenue

“I will hold a press conference tomorrow in front of Delaney Hall at 9 a.m. to announce a coordinated legal strategy, in partnership with community advocates, seeking the immediate closure of Delaney Hall; to outline the city’s updated public safety response; and to remind everyone of the reasons for this protest: the rights and liberties of people being wrongly detained without due process.”