The following statement was released by The Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka, The City of Newark, NJ:
“Last week, we saw Trump inciting American insurrection, treason, and sedition in the U.S. Capitol. These violent crimes included placing a noose on the Capitol lawn, assault, and six American citizens' death.
“This afternoon, we saw our House of Representatives standing in those same defiled and hallowed chambers to hold that very same leader fully accountable and I commend them for this.
“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said repeatedly that Trump’s continued presence in office is a clear and present danger to the safety and security of the United States. He launched an attack on our Congress, its members, its staff, our institutions, and our laws. The Senate cannot ignore this threat. They must convict him and do so swiftly.
“These are perilous times and Newark stands in support of the many law enforcement agencies that are uniting to tackle what will be the largest domestic terror and sedition investigation in American history, to bring to justice every person who committed this horrific conspiracy.
"We also express our support and thanks to the police agencies and military units deploying to Washington to protect the upcoming inauguration ceremonies on January 20. Some of these men and women – New Jersey State Police and National Guardsmen – are from Newark.
“So, as we look to January 20, 2021, the day that Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, we look to the day our country will say ‘no’ to hate and images of confederate flags in the Capitol, ‘no’ to total disrespect and destruction of monuments like that of John Lewis, and ‘no’ to white supremacy.
"We will say ‘yes’ to law, justice, and progress. Our country will be led by a president of all the people and I trust he will set our nation on a new path.”