Democrats’ Expert Witness Claims Black Voters Are Powerless Unless Democrats Control the Legislature
Senator Danny Britt
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2022
Democrats’ Expert Witness Claims Black Voters Are Powerless Unless Democrats Control the Legislature
UNC professor Dr. James Leloudis today told a court that black voters and legislators are powerless unless Democrats control the legislature
Just 48 hours earlier, long-serving black Democrat Sen. Toby Fitch credited Republicans with advancing his priorities
Sen. Fitch: “When we let the Republicans know that it was a hot-button item for us, they then started listening to what we had to say.”
Raleigh, N.C. — UNC professor Dr. James Leloudis told a court hearing a redistricting lawsuit that black voters and legislators are powerless unless Democrats control the legislature.
In court today, Dr. Leloudis repeated the claim he made last week in his deposition. He was asked, “Does there have to be a Democratic majority in the General Assembly for minority voting strength not to be diluted?”
Dr. Leloudis responded, “…I think that’s more or less true.”
The stunning accusation implies black legislators are incapable of working with Republicans. It also contradicts mounds of data showing black voters increasingly favor Republican candidates.
Just 48 hours prior to Dr. Leloudis’s claim, a 10-term black legislator, Sen. Toby Fitch (D-Wilson), credited Republicans with advancing his criminal justice reform priorities.
Speaking to The Assembly about landmark criminal justice legislation passed into law last year, Sen. Fitch said, “When we let the Republicans know that it was a hot-button item for us, they then started listening to what we had to say.”
Sen. Fitch specifically credited Sens. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) and Danny Britt (R-Robeson) with collaborating with him to advance shared priorities.
Sen. Britt said, “Dr. Leloudis’s implication that black legislators are incapable of collaborating with others in the legislature is offensive, false, and borders on racist. I represent one of the most racially diverse districts in the entire state, and I count black legislators like Sen. Fitch among my closest colleagues in the legislature.”
Sen. Britt is a Republican senator representing one of the most racially diverse districts in the entire state. He was recently named “Tar Heel of the Month” by the News & Observer because of his work on criminal justice reform.
