Patrick Braxton is elected mayor of Newbern, Alabama. (Photo: Facebook)
May 13, 2024 Story by: Editor
Patrick Braxton, claiming to be Newbern, Alabama’s inaugural Black mayor, faced disappointment as his plea for a November special election was rejected in a lawsuit concerning allegations of exclusion by white town leaders.
Resident of Newbern, a tiny town in Hale County, Braxton filed a federal lawsuit in Selma, accusing his white predecessor and the city council of orchestrating a special election to undermine his authority, a move he deems unconstitutional and a violation of voting rights.
While U.S. District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose acknowledged the potential validity of Braxton’s constitutional claim, she ruled against granting a November special election, stating insufficient evidence of “irreparable harm.” Source: Al
Braxton’s legal battle, scheduled for a bench trial in September, unfolds against the backdrop of a contentious power struggle. The lawsuit contends that the white mayor and council held an unnotified special election, rendering Braxton and the town’s Black residents disenfranchised.
Haywood Stokes III, the incumbent white mayor, maintains that the special election was legitimate, disputing Braxton’s claims of illegality and lack of notification.
The lawsuit further alleges discriminatory practices, including denial of access to town hall facilities and city documents, against Braxton and the all-Black council.
Newbern’s electoral landscape, fraught with allegations of generational power dynamics favoring white residents, underscores deeper systemic issues. The absence of elections for decades and alleged voter suppression tactics highlight broader challenges faced by Black voters in Alabama.
Morenike Fajana, special counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, underscores the significance of judicial intervention in safeguarding voting rights, citing historical discrimination against Black Alabamians.
The lawsuit invokes the Voting Rights Act, asserting ongoing violations against Black voters and the need for immediate judicial intervention to uphold democratic principles and ensure equal participation in municipal elections.
