Alabama board member who used racist slurs faces calls to resign

An Alabama city council member faces calls to resign after using a racist slur by pointing to a black colleague in a meeting Monday night.

John “Tommy” Bryant stood up and pointed to Black Council member Veronica Freeman and said, “Do we have a house N word here? Could she please stand up? ”At the council meeting.

Video of the meeting was shared on the Tarrant, Alabama Facebook page. The clip shows members of the public at the board meeting audibly panting in response to his use of the insult.

Freeman was then seen sobbing with his head in his hands before stepping outside.

Bryant said his use of the insult must reflect something Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton, who is black, allegedly said in a previous private meeting.

“He doesn’t need to use that term in front of everyone, and I thought the city should know the kind of terminology the mayor uses, and I didn’t want him to get away with it. So that’s why I made this comment, “Bryant said in an interview Tuesday with local news station WVTM-TV.

“He said it in a derogatory way, I said it so people know what the mayor said,” Bryant added. “The mayor was derogatory to Veronica Freeman when he said that.”

When asked if he was a racist, Bryant replied, “It’s according to your definition of the word racist. Whatever the definition of the public, I may be a racist. But according to the true definition of a racist, absolutely not. “

Bryant and Freeman did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

Newton, who was sworn in as mayor in November, told ABC News that the insult claim was “just plain adamantly false.”

“Unfortunately, it was a political coup that has gone badly wrong,” he said, adding that the “actions” and “beliefs” of some council members “do not represent the city”.

Alabama Democrats asked Bryant to step down after the explosion, claiming in a declaration, “He is racist and unfit to serve.”

“Alabama still has a long way to go when it comes to racing, but getting close to the KKK and using the N word should make you unfit to serve. These racists are in the history books with Bull Connor and George Wallace, not the taxpayer’s payroll, ”the statement added.

Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said Bryant’s behavior “is totally unacceptable in any setting,” but did not mention whether he thought he should resign.

“The Alabama Republican Party is deeply troubled by the racist outburst and lack of respect for City Councilor Tommy Bryant. Such language is totally unacceptable in any context, and even more disturbing from an elected official, ”Wahl told Alabama Local News.