Baraka blasts critics for 'using our children' in charter school fight (VIDEO)
NEWARK — A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it only took a few in a recent snapshot of Mayor Ras Baraka to cause a stir.
The photo taken at a breast cancer rally on Sunday shows Baraka smiling with a number of girls dressed in pink, one of whom is holding a sign that reads "Newarkers for MORE KIPP Schools NOW!"
In light of the KIPP charter school networks recent announcement that it plans to seek permission to build up to five more schools in Newark, the picture gained traction on social media, where it was shared by advocates on either side of the city's long-simmering debate on charters.
On Tuesday, one day after calling the expansion "irresponsible" and potentially harmful to Newark children outside of KIPP schools, Baraka clarified that the picture had no bearing on his stance.
"I support all my kids even the ones I don't agree with," he said. "The kids were harmless. They were not being malicious at all. I would take the picture again but my position on expansion remains the same."
Baraka also took to the city's YouTube channel to respond to some of the criticisms he received, saying the girls were being used "to push political fights that we're having as adults."
Newark Teachers Union President John Abeigon said he had seen the picture online and understood the mayor's explanation.
"He's a politician. As a politician I guess he would have to say something like that," he said.
However, he added that he believed the issues surrounding charter growth and their impact on students in traditional public schools required more caution from those in Baraka blasts critics for 'using our children' in charter school fight (VIDEO) | NJ.com:
