The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Black Caucus again calls for resignation
Gwinnett leader Hunter called Lewis ‘racist pig’ in post.
Members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus on Thursday once again called for the resignation of embattled Gwinnett County Commissioner Tommy Hunter.
Hunter has been under fire since January, when he wrote a Facebook post calling civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis a “racist pig.”
”I think it’s a really good time for Commissioner Hunter to look deep within his soul and consider the repercussions of his actions, and do for the state of Georgia and his Board of Commissioners and his district what needs to be done,” said State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, a Democrat from Lithonia. “And that is to step aside, and let someone who truly represents the interests of his district to come into that position.”
Kendrick, whose District 93 is partially in Hunter’s commission district, was one of seven members of the 60-member Black Caucus who attended Thursday’s press conference.
Organizations like the Georgia NAACP and Gwinnett County Democratic Party have called for Hunter’s resignation since his Jan. 14 Facebook post about Lewis. He also referred to Democrats as “Demonrats” and a “bunch of idiots.” In other 2016 posts, Hunter used the word “libtards,” said “colored people” wasn’t a slur and wondered if there were any “white guys” on the University of Alabama’s football team. The Republican commissioner has apologized for his “choice of words” in the Lewis post but has also made it clear he has no plans to step down from his commission seat. “Due to (the caucus’) appalling refusal to demand the resignation of a fellow member, who is an open proponent of violent child abuse, it should be clear this is not about them taking the moral high ground,” Seth Weathers, a political consultant who has acted as Hunter’s spokesman, wrote in a text message to the AJC. “This is nothing more than a Democrat campaign event. Spare me the faux outrage — people are beginning to see through these overused Democrat tactics. It should be noted their organization is made up of otherwise honorable individuals.”
Weathers’ child abuse reference was a jab at Kendrick, who in 2014 shared on Facebook a photo from the child abuse case against NFL star Adrian Peterson. Kendrick’s post said her own mother “called this discipline.”