Newark Mayor Cory Booker attends White House security briefing on inner city violence

WASHINGTON — Newark Mayor Cory Booker joined two U.S. mayors for a White House security briefing Tuesday as part of an effort by the Obama administration to share information regarding "domestic radicalization" and inner city violence, according to city and federal officials. "The topic was public safety in general and protecting our cities from violence," Booker said today, and...

Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerNewark Mayor Cory Booker delivers his State of the City address in February from Newark Symphony Hall.
WASHINGTON — Newark Mayor Cory Booker joined two U.S. mayors for a White House security briefing Tuesday as part of an effort by the Obama administration to share information regarding "domestic radicalization" and inner city violence, according to city and federal officials.

"The topic was public safety in general and protecting our cities from violence," Booker said today, and praised the Obama Administration for what he said has been a consistent dialogue between local and federal leaders. "The Obama administration is extraordinary in keeping close ties on what’s happening in neighborhoods in communities and cities."

The meeting, conducted in the White House situation room, was focused on terrorist groups recruiting people on American soil. Officials briefed on the discussion said it was not centered on Islamic extremism but the larger context of violence, its root causes, and means of prevention.

"The Administration routinely meets with state and local officials to obtain their perspectives and better understand the issues they are facing. One issue is the threat of domestic radicalization," said one Obama Administration official familiar with the meeting but was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly. "During the meeting, mayors provided invaluable insights into this issue and discussed the ways in which the Federal government can help them address the threat."

According to other officials briefed on the discussions, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael Coleman were also present at the meeting. Because of high Somali populations in their cities, Rybak and Coleman discussed radicalization among that group in particular, but it was not the focus of the discussion,

FBI investigations in both cities made headlines last year with both cities suggested as jumping off points for domestic attacks perpetrated by Somalis elsewhere in the U.S. Coleman’s spokesman, Dan Williamson, said he didn’t know the extent to which the radicalization of Somalis was discussed.

"I’m sure the issue of Somalis came up," Williamson said. "The city’s proactive role is to engage with them in a positive way to be a part of the community," Williamson said.

Booker also declined to discuss specifics of the meeting but said it was part of an ongoing conversation to address not only law enforcement strategies, but root causes of violence such as poverty and "hopelessness," common to all inner cities.

Booker was scheduled to attend a state dinner tonight in Washington hosted by President Obama.