Ras Baraka is in a tough fight for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey.
The hedge fund managers have poured into the campaign more than $1 million–that has been reported–to defeat him and to turn over more public schools and children to corporate charter chains. Please help save public education in Newark by supporting Ras Baraka.
Ras is a high school principal and a member of the Newark City Council.
Please donate whatever you can to help him.
The primary election is May 13.
He needs your help NOW.
This is what Mark Naison wrote about Ras Baraka:
“Friends of public education. The most important election in the nation regarding the future of public education is happening right now in Newark New Jersey. On one side is Shevar Jeffries, a lawyer and a huge charter school supporter getting millions of dollars in contributions from Hedge Fund advocates of school privatization and on the other side is Ras Baraka, a high school principal who has been in the front lines of community voices resisting Chris Christie “One Newark” plan and the school closings and mass teacher firings which have accompanied it. Rarely has there been a clearer choice for defenders of public education and those who think Big Money Interests should not determine the future of our schools. Ras Baraka is not only the right choice for Newark students, teachers and families, his election will inspire candidates like him to come forth in cities like Philadelphia and Chicago and Los Angeles where pro privatization Mayors currently are in office. And he is not just strong on paper. His is a brilliant speaker, someone who inspires those who hear him to step forward in the struggle for justice, and take on the Special Interests who are deforming our democracy.
“Any way you can help this campaign will help our entire movement. We need Ras Baraka as Mayor of Newark, and we need more people like him to run for office in every urban center in the nation
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=246039618866448”
This election is absolutely critical WAY beyond Newark as Christie has been intent on turning NJ into a model of reforminess/teacher bashing to fuel his presidential ambitions and campaign coffers with all the DFER $$. All the state politicians are watching this race VERY closely as a sign of where the winds are on educational issues. For those who think this is just about urban schools in NJ, it MOST CERTAINLY is not. Newark is just the front lines.
…should have said Wall St. $$ more broadly than DFER. Ostensibly, one would think DFER money was actually flowing to reformy Dems such as Cuomo and Booker, yes?
Here’s a new poll from the Jeffries $$$ PAC that puts Baraka way up over Jeffries (at 42%-30%). They try to spin this as positive, saying that people who “first heard of Jeffries” in the past three weeks (since their $$$ flood) have a more favorable opinion of him than people who know him better. Hmmm.
That’s kind of a desperate stretch, but the money is moving their guy up a little. They’re trying to call it “momentum” because Jeffries gained support when their other corporate-backed candidate dropped out.
http://www.politickernj.com/72846/newark-first-polling-memo-baraka-42-jeffries-30
While the poll shows race narrowing, Jeffries has a tremendous money advantage and also the support of the very powerful county executive (who, btw, did robo calls in support of Chris Christie during the governor’s race this past fall). They know what is on the line with this election and are throwing everything at this race.
I love when I see phrases like “a lawyer and a huge charter school supporter” in this context, with “lawyer” essentially connoting something along the lines of “satanist” or “degenerate.”
Well Flerp! you know the old saying: “The best lawyer is . . .
. . . the one on your side!”
There’s no doubt that lawyers, acting in their professional capacity, are highly unpleasant people. Pity them, if you can. The job takes a mighty toll.
I love it. You teachers think you are the Christian clean, that you have a horror of the Devil like the most rabid down south evangelist.
But YOU are the satanists because you worship the state rather than the individual.
It’s beyond me. Unless you see your own person profit centers evaporating.
Harlan, you inattentive bozo, I’m not a teacher, I’m a lawyer.
I just watched that insufferable Cami Anderson video that Peter Greene wrote about… And that enabled me to cough up $50 for Baraka, out of gratitude that he’s there to donate to.
I think he’ll win.
For the people across the nation that believe in public education, this really is an extremely important election. Ras is an educator with experience “in the trenches”, while Jefferies is a “reformer” aligned with Rhee, Christie, Cerf,Anderson and Booker. That days it all.
Please do what you can to support the pro public education candidate in this big election.
Is he . . . uh . . . a Democrat? (Sorry for the bad language.)
They’re both Democrats. It’s a primary, duh. Can you even sense light and dark in your diminished state?
You are simply the cutest troll ever HU
Thank you…my pledge is in for Mr Baraka.
Turned on the tv after coming home, and the attack ads are already on CBS against Mr Baraka and Mr Astorino.
It looks like the deformers are very concerned.
I, too, think we will win these important elections.
Is there a site which lists important public education related elections going on around the country so viewers can be in the know about the “Ras Baraka’s” around the nation? For west coasters there is an important race going on for CA for state superintendent of public instruction – incumbent and pro common core Torlakson vs Gutierrez. The news actually “pretend covered” growing opposition to common core – very SLANTED (virtually ignoring the opposition candidate and giving direct air time to the ‘ed reformy” incumbent. Their are lots of shots of perfectly working mac laptops and shots of laptops in their special storage slots being charged. They showed a few select test questions with students working diligently on their picture perfect mac laptops .. wow must have had to get approval from Pearson and maybe payment for product endorsement! They quote the current superintendent but ignore the candidate vying for his position – Gutierrez – by not interviewing her.
Check out the “pretend coverage”.. well slanted coverage with product endorsement…
http://www.kcra.com/news/education-rally-to-protest-common-core-state-standards/25732184
A few years ago I dated a man… He was in and out of jail during our relationship. In many attempts to turn his life around … I always heard the name Ras Baraka … My ex always spoke extremely high of this man. He would say how Mr. Baraka could help him to turn his life around. He would cry on my shoulder about how Ras was the one and only person he could turn to that understood him… That would help him … And wouldn’t turn his back on him.
At the time I had no idea who this man .. Ras Baraka was , but I knew he was somebody pretty special. On June 6th 2012 my ex lost his battle in the streets .. As he chose to continue to live his chosen lifestyle… R.I.P.
So now as the elections are nearing I keep hearing so many great things about Mr. Baraka!!! And when I see him on television I get sooo excited … It’s almost like seeing an angel in him. He means soo much to so many people in newark!!! We NEED him as mayor !!! He understands us… He is up close and personal with the reality of us … the newark residents!! We don’t need another well dressed suit in office!! We need some one that knows the struggle most people in newark faces!!! I know that he can make Newark a better place!!! I hope everyone reading this decides to vote in his favor come Election Day!!! Give him the opportunity he needs to help us!!!! I believe in his spirit!!! We are real to him!!! Xoxo