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After allegedly posting racial comments on his Facebook, the Alabama State NAACP is calling for Covington County Commissioner Tony Holmes to resign.

“The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP believes in and defends the First Amendment Right…right to free speech, the right to peacefully assemble and protest and the right to petition.    Therefore, we are very concerned about how citizens in Covington County were treated during a recent Commissioner Meeting.  The NAACP understands that commissions have rules and procedures, but that they can suspend the rules on such occasions.   

“We are also very concerned about the comments made by Commissioner Tony Holmes.  We agree with the more than 900 citizens who have signed the petition that Mr. Holmes should do the honorable thing and resign.  Anytime anyone mentions bringing back “Lynch Mobs” it is a threat to African Americans because so many African Americans were lynched by lynch mobs.  Did Mr. Holmes make any remarks when the White Supremacy, Neo-Nazis groups rioted with confederate flags and Nazi’s symbols flying and killed a young woman in Charlottesville, VA.  But he went out of his way to make remarks about incidents in Ferguson and Minneapolis where African Americans were protesting.

“I am sure Mr. Holmes is an educated man and understands the implication of what he said.  I believe he intended it to be a threat, especially comments he made after George Floyd was murdered.  Stating that we should bring back “lynch mobs” is like saying that we should bring back the gas chamber when there is a protest by our sisters and brothers in Jewish Communities.”

“The Alabama NAACP is calling on the Commissioners and citizens of Covington County to look at this situation and ask if this is the kind of person, we want to represent us in such an important position in our county government.  Commissioner Holmes it is time for you to go.”