Crime & Safety
Racist Facebook Post About Newark Mayor Under Investigation
The social media post compares the African-American mayor to a gorilla, report says.
Newark authorities are investigating whether a racist Facebook post comparing Mayor Ras Baraka to a gorilla came from two local police officers.
The social media conversation may have taken place between an active-duty Newark police lieutenant and a retired city officer, NJ.com reported.
Captured in a screenshot, the thread opens with a photo of a gorilla alongside a caption that reads: “Lmfao....How’s your mayor?”
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“Exactly!” replied the other writer.
Baraka - the son of famed writer and social critic Amiri Baraka - is African-American.
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Newark Police Department spokesman Ron Glover stated that the lieutenant believed to be involved in the online conversation will remain on active duty pending an investigation.
Photo of Ras Baraka by the City of Newark
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