Politics & Government
This ‘Rabble Rouser’ Is Running For Newark Mayor In 2022
Anthony Diaz, a longtime community activist and co-founder of the Newark Water Coalition, is running against Mayor Ras Baraka.
NEWARK, NJ — A self-described “rabble rouser” is running for Newark mayor in 2022, he recently announced.
That’s how Anthony Diaz – a longtime community activist – describes himself on his Twitter profile. Not many would argue the point with Diaz, a co-founder with the Newark Water Coalition who helped to lead a major protest for “clean water” when the MTV Music Awards came to the Brick City in 2019.
Diaz’s mayoral campaign message was simple: Organize.
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to a campaign news release:
“The priority for a Diaz administration is to use people power to reorganize the policies, procedures, and funding for public safety, the health department, and businesses and developers who chose to do business in the city and with the city. The aim is to put an end to decades of failed neoliberal policies that derailed the city’s Black and Latino revolution of the late 60s and early 70s.”
“Old, impractical ideologies won’t save our people,” Diaz said in an online campaign announcement.
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“The city needs an elected official who is not afraid to say that we need to abolish the police,” Diaz continued. “The city needs an elected official who will say that the reason why there are eight shootings in Newark is because of intergenerational poverty and systemic capitalist oppression. We have undoubtedly entered a new era where everyone can see blatant hypocrisy of the American Dream. We need an elected official that is willing to be honest with his community when it comes to the natural resources of the city.”
“The solution to all our problems is to organize,” Diaz said. “Not later but now. Organize towards liberation. Organize.”
Diaz’s mayoral bid isn’t his first time running a political campaign. The activist ran for a seat on the Essex County Board of County Commissioners in 2020, where he was defeated in the Democratic primary election. He also ran for a seat on the Newark City Council in 2018.
Systemic problems of poverty can only be solved by systemic solutions. Don't tell me we can't overhaul society. Covid has already shown us we can change the rules in which this world operates on. Organize bigger and better coalitions!
— Anthony Diaz (@NewarkPolitics) November 28, 2021
Just did an interview with the Setonian about the Newark Mayors Race. The question was what do I want to tell people that think I am too radical. I quoted Fidel and I have openly said I wanted to abolish the police. I answered I don't think I am radical enough.
— Anthony Diaz (@NewarkPolitics) November 30, 2021
Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com
Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
