Members of Black Caucus join call for Gwinnett commissioner's resignation

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus called for the resignation of an embattled Gwinnett County official Thursday.

Gwinnett Commissioner Tommy Hunter has faced protests after he called Atlanta Rep. John Lewis a racist pig in a Facebook post.

Hunter's spokesperson fired back at the Caucus Thursday afternoon calling it "faux outrage."

Seven members of the 60 member Black Caucus attended the Thursday event asking Hunter to "look deep within his soul," and "do what needs to be done."

"We can't stand another day," said state Rep. Erica Thomas.

State Sen. Lester Jackson called John Lewis an American hero.

Since Hunter made the comments on his personal Facebook page Jan. 14, protestors have lined up at county commission meetings to demand his resignation.

State Rep. Dewey McClain worries the work of government in Gwinnett County is being affected by the controversy.

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"The work that needs to be done in the county cannot be done because they are all concerned about Commissioner Hunter," he said.

McClain said he has joined others in calling for the commissioner’s resignation.

"To assault a Civil Rights leader that's still living, is just unacceptable," said state Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick, who represents part of Hunter’s commission district.

After the caucus spoke, Hunter spokesman Seth Weathers issued this statement.

"Due to their appalling refusal to demand the resignation of a fellow member, who is an open proponent of violent child abuse, it should be clear this is not about them taking the moral high ground. This is nothing more than a Democrat campaign event. Spare me the faux outrage - people are beginning to see through these overused Democrat tactics. It should be noted their organization is made up of otherwise honorable individuals."

The fellow member Weathers wrote about is Kendricks. In 2014, she shared a Facebook photo from the child abuse case against NFL player Adrian Peterson. In her own post she wrote, in part, that her own mother "called this discipline."

Kendrick responded to the Hunter camp statement with this reply:

"I would love for them to point to whoever member they feel support violent child abuse, complete with evidence of such. I understand that in this age of "alternative facts" by certain members of the Republican Party that may be hard to do. In addition to attacking his political party, which we did not do, Tommy Hunter's office has instead decided to attack specific people---yet again---without evidence to support allegations. Same old tactics and why his resignation was asked for in the first place. My point has been proven. Resign now."

Tommy Hunter told Channel 2 Action News previously he apologized for the choice of words. He stated he would not resign his post.

Cox Media Group