By: Alyssa Wilson

There are growing calls for the resignation of an Alabama councilman who used the N-word during a public meeting.  

John “Tommy” Bryant, a councilman in Tarrant City, Alabama, was caught on video using the N-word during a meeting held Monday. In it, Bryant was heard saying, “The n-word. The n-word. Let’s get to the n-word. Hey. Do we have a house n—– in here? Do we? Hey. Would she please stand up?” 

Before making the comments, Bryant was being questioned about social media posts made by his wife on the topic of race. He then doubled down on his comments, alleging he was repeating words used by the city’s mayor during the previous executive session, CBS 42 reported.  

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Waynette Bonham, a Black woman, said she was shocked by Bryant’s comments. “We were astonished. No one left, because we were actually very very in shock as to what he had said,” she told CBS 42. “I was like this was the person that is supposed to be serving our communities? Like, this is supposed to be our representation. He has his own district in Tarrant?”  

Since using the racial slur, Bryant said he would not resign and suggested he may even run for mayor. He also defended his use of the word, saying, “It is ok for me to repeat it because, as I said before, I wanted everybody to know what the mayor had said. He said it in a derogatory manner. I said it so that people would know what the mayor said.”  

Tracie Threadford, Tarrant City’s Councilwoman, called on Bryant to submit his resignation. “Tommy Bryant is a distraction to all the change to our city, and he needs to resign,” she said. The Alabama Democratic Party released a statement about Bryant and his use of the racial slur.  

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.