NEWARK – The star-studded birthday fundraiser for Newark mayoral candidate Ras Baraka generated more than the apperance of famed hip-hop singer Lauryn Hill, who serenaded Baraka with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
According to Baraka campaign event coordinator Jennifer Kohl, the Wednesday night event raised approximately $200,000 for the South Ward councilman, who is locked in a contentious battle with his rival, former state Assistant Attorney General Shavar Jeffries, with just more than six weeks left in the Newark mayoral campaign. More than 800 Baraka supporters attended the event, including noted filmmaker Spike Lee and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
Kohl noted that the Baraka campaign will be holding more fundraising events in the next few weeks, including an event on Monday, April 7 that will be hosted by professor and prominent public intellectual Dr. Cornel West.
