A Black GOP volunteer was terrorized by a group of three white people who yelled racial slurs at him, while one man even flashed a firearm at him.
According to the News & Observer, Derek Partee was volunteering at the Steele Creek polling place just southwest of Charlotte, N.C., when he was confronted by the raucous group on Wednesday.
“Down here in Steele Creek working the polls just threatened by two white males in [sic]a white female who called me a N–ger, Black piece of sh-t and he exposed his weapon,” Partee wrote in a post showing pictures of the suspects. “I had to back off and call CMPD, folks are getting bold and forward in the time.”
Down here in Steele Creek working the polls just threatened by two white males in a white female who called me a Nigger,…
Partee told the News & Observer that he got to the polling place around 2:30 p.m. when another volunteer pointed out the trio who had been taking photos that day and earlier before. A retired homicide detective out of New York, Partee decided to jot down the license plate number, but before he could do so, the man who had what looked like a firearm confronted him.
“He said something about being a Republican, I said I am a Republican, he said ‘Motherf–ker, you ain’t sh-t,’” Partee said.
“They didn’t care whether I was a Democrat or a Republican, they just cared that I was black,” he added.
Later that day, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department confirmed that they had one individual in custody, who they intend to bring charges against. The other two individuals will not be facing charges, as police ruled that they did not commit any crimes. The suspect involved was apparently carrying a BB gun in a holster, which was seized as evvidence, the CMPD’s news release noted, according to the website.
The police department is also speaking with the FBI to determine whether federal charges in the case “may be appropriate.”
Executive Direct of N.C.’s Republican Party, Dallas Woodhouse said that Partee’s encounter has pushed the party to ensure that volunteers, as well as officials, make sure to watch out for possible attacks.
“The NCGOP condemns all forms of political violence and voter intimidation, no matter the source,” Woodhouse said. “Our county offices are already under heightened states of scrutiny due to vandalism we have already seen at offices this year, and the unsolved political terrorist firebombing of our Orange County offices in 2016.”
Regardless of whether you’re in N.C. or any other state my friends, remember to stay safe out there while you’re voting (and also check upon your state’s laws to make sure that you run into no voter ID problems, or anything similar while trying to let your voice be heard.)
