Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!

Newbern, Alabama refuses to allow black mayor to serve.

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by GatorJMDZ, Aug 2, 2023.

  1. GatorJMDZ

    GatorJMDZ gatorjack VIP Member

    24,823
    2,590
    1,868
    Apr 3, 2007
    Newbern is a rural town in Alabama. 85% of its population is black. There hadn't been an election there in decades. The serving white mayor would pick his successor and that person would appoint the city council. No black person ever served as mayor and only one on the city council...ever.

    Patrick Braxton, a black firefighter and first responder, confronted the current white mayor and advised him he was going to run for the position. That mayor lied to him about the process, but Braxton figured it out, filed the necessary paperwork and paid the applicable fee. No one else qualified to run so Braxton was duly elected mayor per a local judge.

    That's when the redneck fun starts. The local white residents were not happy. The locks on the doors to City Hall were changed, Braxton wasn't allowed access to the town's bank account or even the town's PO box. The white mayor and white city council members then held a secret meeting and voted to have a secret special election where they voted themselves back in. Braxton had had the locks on City Hall changed so he could get into the building, the secretly elected white mayor had them changed again.

    Braxton has a federal lawsuit pending.

    Black man who says he was elected mayor of Alabama town alleges that White leaders are keeping him from position
     
    • Informative Informative x 11
  2. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

    29,824
    1,850
    1,968
    Apr 19, 2007
    Democracy ... "dont try that in a small town"

    [​IMG]
     
    • Funny Funny x 12
    • Winner Winner x 10
    • Like Like x 2
  3. sandermills

    sandermills Recruit

    5
    3
    153
    Jul 27, 2023
    Wow, that's a tough situation. It's disheartening to see discrimination and attempts to suppress change. Props to Patrick Braxton for standing up and
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Like Like x 1
  4. sierragator

    sierragator GC Hall of Fame

    15,279
    13,204
    1,853
    Apr 8, 2007
    Some things never change
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. antny1

    antny1 GC Hall of Fame

    5,063
    2,627
    2,498
    Dec 3, 2019
    Racist people are everywhere and Florida has our share but I can't imagine wanting to play college football in Alabama or Georgia knowing how many fans would show their true colors given the opportunity.
     
    • Agree Agree x 7
    • Like Like x 1
  6. tigator2019

    tigator2019 GC Hall of Fame

    1,438
    2,563
    1,873
    Dec 25, 2018
    In my head--- UF
    Blatant racism.

    Right there- who on the statewide level in GOP is condemning this?

    It is the government that is behaving this way. State sanctioned. Everyone needs to be extremely worried as well as outraged.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2023
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
  7. rivergator

    rivergator Too Hot Mod Moderator VIP Member

    35,421
    1,756
    2,258
    Apr 8, 2007
    I don’t understand how this could been going on for years
     
    • Agree Agree x 7
    • Winner Winner x 2
  8. Trickster

    Trickster VIP Member

    9,890
    2,417
    3,233
    Sep 20, 2014
    I've often wondered that myself. However, my hometown of Gainesville has a rather sordid history. I agree, though, Alabama is in a class by itself. (They elected Tubberville as one of their Senators, for God's sake!)
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. boligator

    boligator All American

    398
    31
    1,763
    Apr 3, 2007
    'murica...same old BS...oh and there is no racism...give me a friggin' break
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  10. BLING

    BLING GC Hall of Fame

    8,784
    861
    2,843
    Apr 16, 2007
    I’ve seen a few articles on this in the last few weeks, surprised it wasn’t posted here yet. Was going to start the thread myself or use it as a counterpoint where folks insists racism is a thing of the past.

    Your take is exactly the same as mine. It’s so extreme you wonder how this was even possible. To just “hand down” government positions without an election, when there is an election to just ignore it because of race? I don’t care how small a town it is, that’s not American. Doesn’t give much confidence those black folks votes in that county are ever counted appropriately, and also makes one wonder if it’s a truly a one off.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  11. channingcrowderhungry

    channingcrowderhungry Premium Member

    8,974
    2,015
    3,013
    Apr 3, 2007
    Bottom of a pint glass
    All the posters who say racism would go away if people just stopped bringing it up care to chime in?
     
    • Like x 6
    • Winner x 4
    • Fistbump/Thanks! x 2
    • Optimistic x 1
    • Wish I would have said that x 1
  12. GCNumber7

    GCNumber7 VIP Member

    5,805
    407
    518
    Apr 3, 2007
    Can’t wait to hear DeSantis’ take on this. I’m sure there’s a silver lining to black people being denied representation by a white minority.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Best Post Ever Best Post Ever x 1
  13. orangeblue_coop

    orangeblue_coop GC Hall of Fame

    4,259
    707
    2,938
    Nov 19, 2016
    “However, Braxton said that the "minority White residents of (Newbern), long accustomed to exercising total control over the government, refused to accept this outcome."

    Hmm sounds similar to a certain contingent who refused to acknowledge a certain presidential election outcome recently. I guess this is what they do.

    Anyway I hope Braxton wins this lawsuit against those corrupt scumbags.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  14. BigCypressGator1981

    BigCypressGator1981 GC Hall of Fame

    6,707
    1,374
    3,103
    Oct 11, 2011
    Classic Alabama.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 1
  15. tampagtr

    tampagtr VIP Member

    17,561
    2,791
    1,618
    Apr 3, 2007
    This is pretty much what he means
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  16. citygator

    citygator VIP Member

    11,455
    2,534
    3,303
    Apr 3, 2007
    Charlotte
    I dont see what the problem is here. The black Americans of Newbern are learning valuable skills in bureaucracy that they can utilize to be successful later in life. Signed FL DOE.
     
    • Funny x 7
    • Winner x 6
    • Like x 3
    • Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
    • Creative x 1
    • Best Post Ever x 1
  17. tampagtr

    tampagtr VIP Member

    17,561
    2,791
    1,618
    Apr 3, 2007
    Really?
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  18. 96Gatorcise

    96Gatorcise GC Hall of Fame

    15,716
    26,019
    3,363
    Aug 6, 2008
    Tampa
    Screenshot_20230802-095312.png
    Population of Newbern Alabama. 129

    Highest pop.... 564 in 1900
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2023
    • Informative Informative x 1
  19. Spurffelbow833

    Spurffelbow833 GC Hall of Fame

    9,540
    725
    1,293
    Jan 9, 2009
    If 129 people can't figure out how to leave each other alone, I guess they deserve a mayor.
     
  20. docspor

    docspor GC Hall of Fame

    5,726
    1,821
    3,078
    Nov 30, 2010
    Racism??? It’s merely tradition. Heritage Not Hate.
     
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 2
    • Winner Winner x 2
    • Funny Funny x 1