Allegations of White Leaders Preventing Black Elected Mayor from Assuming Office in Alabama Town

Black Man Files Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit After Being Denied Office by White Leaders in Alabama Town

Patrick Braxton, a Black man who claims to have been elected mayor of Newburn, Alabama, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the white leaders of the town. Braxton, along with several other plaintiffs, including James Ballard, Barbara Patrick, Janice Quarles, and Wanda Scott, alleges that white residents of Newburn have refused to accept his election victory and have worked to prevent him from taking office.

According to the lawsuit, Newburn has not held an election in decades, and mayoral positions have been “inherited” by hand-picked successors who then select town council members without an election. Despite the fact that approximately 85% of Newburn’s population is Black, all prior mayors have been white, with only one Black person ever serving on the town council.

Braxton, a volunteer firefighter and emergency responder, decided to run for mayor in 2020 due to concerns that the town council and mayor were not addressing the needs of the majority Black community, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he faced numerous obstacles throughout the election process. He alleges that the acting mayor, Haywood Stokes III, provided him with incorrect information about qualifying for the election and failed to provide public notice to residents. Despite these challenges, Braxton submitted his statement of candidacy and qualifying money order to the city clerk.

Braxton was the only person to qualify for the position of mayor, as Stokes did not bother to qualify as a candidate. No candidates qualified for town council positions either. As a result, Braxton was elected mayor by default, becoming the first Black mayor of Newburn in its 165-year history. The county probate judge confirmed that Braxton could appoint people to the town council positions, as previous mayoral administrations had done.

However, just weeks after Braxton’s election, Stokes and his council members allegedly held a secret meeting and adopted a “special” election ordinance. The election was not publicized, and only Stokes and his council members qualified. They reappointed themselves to their positions and unlawfully assumed their new terms, preventing Braxton from exercising his mayoral duties.

In addition to being denied access to the town hall, Braxton has also been unable to access town financial information and the town’s P.O. box. The lawsuit alleges that Stokes and his council members, along with other defendants, have conspired to prevent Braxton from acting as mayor.

Braxton’s lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent the defendants from interfering with his duties as mayor and to grant him immediate access to necessary accounts, documents, and property. He also requests that the defendants be prohibited from conducting business on behalf of the town.

The defendants have responded to the lawsuit, admitting that Braxton is Black and the former mayor of Newburn, but denying many of the allegations. They claim that they were acting under the color of law at all times relevant to the lawsuit.

The federal lawsuit is currently pending in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama. Stokes and his council members have filed a motion to dismiss the case.

The outcome of this lawsuit will have significant implications for the fight against racial discrimination and the protection of civil rights in Alabama.

Original Story at www.cbsnews.com – 2023-07-22 17:06:00