Rep. Jeffrey C. McNeely, a Republican lawmaker for North Carolina, makes a racist remark during a meeting on May 17, 2023.

N.C. Republican lawmaker demoted after racist remark to Black colleague

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A Republican lawmaker in North Carolina was demoted from his position in leadership after making an openly racist remark toward his Black colleague during a house session last week.

Rep. Jeffrey C. McNeely, a Republican lawmaker for North Carolina, makes a racist remark during a meeting on May 17, 2023.
Rep. Jeffrey C. McNeely, a Republican lawmaker for North Carolina, makes a racist remark during a meeting on May 17, 2023.

During a house meeting to discuss private school scholarships, Rep. Jeff McNeely implied Democratic state representative Abe Jones was only admitted into Harvard because Jones was “an athlete or a minority.”

“I understand that you went into public school and into Harvard law and the question is… would you have been able to achieve this if you were not an athlete or a minority,” McNeely asked on the floor.

Video shows McNeely making the controversial remark, leaving many in the chamber visibly stunned as Jones prepared to respond to McNeely’s remark.

The backlash was swift, with many calling from McNeely’s resignation.

McNeely resigned from his deputy whip position, The Charlotte Observer reported.

McNeely has since apologized for the racist remark.

More about the controversy can be found here.

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