Georgia Dem Who Endorsed Trump Quits Office Because Of Party Harassment

On April 15th Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones (D) broke with his party by endorsing President Trump’s reelection bid, citing the president’s handling of the economy and support for historically black colleges.  A week later citing the Georgia Democratic Party’s harassment of him and his party, Rep. Jones announced he was resigning and would not complete his term.

He released this statement earlier today:

“I’m sick and tired of me and my family being attacked and harassed by the Democrat Party for putting my country before my party. I take pride in being an independent thinker. My first amendment right to freedom of speech is under siege. I intend to help the Democrat Party get rid of its bigotry against Black people that are independent and conservative.”

“I endorsed the White guy (Donald J. Trump) that let Blacks out of jail, and they endorsed the White guy (Joe Biden) that put Blacks in jail. Turn the lights off, I have left the plantation. Someone else can occupy that suite. Therefore, I intend not to complete my term effective April 22, 2020. However, I will remain woke and vigilant in educating and fighting for my people.”

His family too? What? Are they refugees from an old mafia movie?

It sounds as if Rep. Jones ran into the liberal ideological purity steam roller.

Jones’ endorsement of the president incited nasty reactions from his party:

One party leader, John Jackson, declared of Jones’ support for Trump, “This is in no way acceptable.” Jackson insisted, “Action will be taken.”

Georgia State Democrat Party Chair Nikema Williams proclaimed that Trump is a – drumroll – “racist!” She added Trump has “made an all-out assault on black Americans,” though she neglected to explain why she feels that way. Williams went on to say that Jones is “an embarrassment to the Democrat Party and he doesn’t stand for our values.”

And

State Sen. Nikema Williams, the chairwoman of the state party, called him an “embarrassment” who doesn’t reflect Georgia values.

“Never has that been clearer than this moment, when he chose to stand with the racist president who has made an all-out assault on black Americans, who has tried to rip away American health care and who has failed our country in its greatest time of need,” she said.

Prior to his announcement, Jones hinted that something was coming. Just yesterday, Rep. Jones tweeted a warning to his fellow Democrats, “I’ve seen more Democrats attack me for my decision to endorse @realDonaldTrump than ask me why.  They’ve used and abused folks in my community for far too long, taking our votes for granted.
Black Americans are waking up. An uprising is near.”

This morning he appeared on the Rashad Richey Morning Show, “to discuss my decision to endorse @realDonaldTrumpand all that lies ahead.”

Rep. Jones also told Richey that despite his resignation he would not be leaving the Democratic Party because “somebody’s got to be in there to hold them accountable — hold them accountable to how they are treating black people [and] root out the bigotry.”

That’s disappointing. The GOP could use more people like Vernon Jones