Feisty Female Friday: LaMonica McIver

The FFF this week is LaMonica McIver.

LaMonica is an the U.S. House Representative member representing the NJ 10th congressional district. She was born in NJ and the first in her family to attend college, graduating with degrees in English Literature and educational leadership and policy. LaMonica worked as a personnel director for Montclair Public Schools, public affairs manager for Newark's Public Service Enterprise Group, and co-founded a non-profit, Newark G.A.L.S., and works with the Believe in Newark Foundation. 

Ras Baraka was her fifth-grade teacher and she first developed an interest in politics while handing out flyers to support his campaign for city council. LaMonica was elected to the Municipal Council of Newark and became council  president but resigned that position to focus on her US House congressional campaign. She served out a deceased politician’s term and was sworn in to serve her first full term in the November 5, 2024, general election.

In May of this year, LaMonica was performing an oversight visit at an ICE detention facility in Newark, along with two other Democratic representatives  and Mayor Ras Baraka. He was then arrested for trespassing, though the charges were subsequently dropped. As La Monica and others attempted to protect Baraka from arrest, only she has since been charged with assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement. She was doing oversight as part of her NJ House Rep. position and has stated that she rejected a plea deal from the USDOJ because she was simply doing her job.

A group of 231 faith leaders from across the state have offered their unwavering support of her and all feel that the Congresswoman has the right to speak truth to power. They see her prosecution as political and believe it is about punishing someone for doing their job and being fearless. Today in court, she pled “not guilty” to the charges leveled against her.

LaMonica lives in Newark, is married, and has a daughter.