Dem candidate caught applauding call for violence against whites

Newark mayor Ras Baraka

, a leading Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor, is facing renewed criticism after a resurfaced video showed him applauding and embracing controversial

Nation of Islam

leader Louis Farrakhan. The footage, taken in 2004 at a Newark church, captures Baraka introducing

Farrakhan

as a major inspiration and "the leader of every Black person", according to a report from New York Post.
"I don't think that there's any man today, present today, that has the kind of moral authority or spiritual strength," Baraka said in the video. "Not president, not community leader, not political international activist, nowhere that has the moral authority, the historical and political framework, that Minister Farrakhan has."

During the speech, Baraka gave Farrakhan two standing ovations—one after Farrakhan rejected the non-violent strategies of the civil rights movement, saying, "The cracker hit you on your jaw, you break his neck," and another when Farrakhan referred to White people as "the enemy."

Farrakhan's controversial history
Farrakhan, 91, has long been a polarising figure due to his history of antisemitic and racially inflammatory remarks. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) have monitored his statements for years, labeling him one of the most influential figures promoting hate speech in the US. He has previously praised Adolf Hitler as a "great man" and made derogatory comments about Jews, White people, and the LGBTQ community.
In the 2004 speech, Farrakhan denounced interracial relationships, criticised Black Americans for serving in the US military, and accused White people of orchestrating violence within Black communities. "You dealing with a devil, man. You're not dealing with righteous people. This cracker is the real devil," he said.
Ongoing association with Farrakhan
The 2004 video is not the only instance of Baraka aligning himself with Farrakhan. In 2012, Baraka, then principal of Newark's Central High School, invited Farrakhan to speak to over 1,000 students. In 2017, as mayor, he organised an event titled "Separation or Death," where Farrakhan reportedly called for African Americans to form an independent state and receive reparations. In 2018, Farrakhan publicly endorsed Baraka at an event in Newark, declaring his support for the mayor.
Baraka defends his position
After the videos resurfaced, Baraka responded to the backlash in a statement to Jewish Insider, saying he "will not be bullied or silenced into walking away from the fight for justice."
"I will not be cowed into denouncing my lifelong work for peace, equality, and equity," Baraka said. "These latest accusations and insinuations aren't just false—they're a reflection of the fear my candidacy is provoking in the political establishment."
Baraka also defended the Nation of Islam's influence in Black communities, arguing that the organisation has played a role in reducing violence and promoting self-determination in neglected neighborhoods.