If you haven’t seen the full video, you should watch it. In front of Delaney Hall on Doremus Avenue in Newark on May 9, there was a scuffle, not between kids over a soccer ball but one involving members of Congress, ICE, and private prison guards.
Three members of Congress and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka asked to inspect Delaney, a private prison which, it should be noted, does NOT have a certificate of occupancy. The Congress members and Baraka were there to inspect; when Baraka was told to leave he did. But then ICE agents pursued him outside, on public property. Not smart.
Charging Rep. McIver with aggravated assault is a stretch, since, if you see the video, she is being pushed as she tries to shelter Rep. Coleman who is 80, from being assaulted by ICE agents. They shove McIver and she elbows one of the ICE men as she is being jostled and keeps shouting that as a Congresswoman, she is being assaulted by ICE. This is nothing more than a blatant attempt to silence criticism.
Prayer for the Day
Give the people your justice, O God, we cry,
For there is little as critics are pushed to the wall;
Give the people your voice, O God, we plead,
For we need prophets who speak your truth.
Give the people your strength, O Holy One,
For we need voices of courage in these times.
In the name of the One who is our model,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
They know better than to go down that road. And it’s been made loudly and abundantly clear to the Trump administration. We’re not going to be intimidated by their tactics to try to force principled opposition from not standing up to their extremism.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries after DOJ threatened to arrest 3 Congress members
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
First Amendment, U.S. Constitution
The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like the cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.
In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap,
Showing that the Lord is upright; God is my rock without any unrighteousness.
Psalm 92: 12-15