John H. Barnes, a state representative from Ohio, who is African American and a Democrat, is suing former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman, Chris Redfern, for defamation, according to the PJ Tatler. Chris Redfern resigned recently among crushing defeats for Democrats, but the icing on the cake is John Barnes’ allegations of racism within the Ohio Democratic party.
Barnes said the troubles began when he refused to join the Black Caucus of his party because he didn’t want to be associated mainly with his skin color. He said he found the compass of the organization to be “troubling, ” and did not want to join because he “wanted to be treated as an individual rather than as a member of a presumed monolithic block of voters based on skin color.”
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He then experienced what he felt were retaliations for not joining. He alleges he was passed over for prominent positions and that the party supported his opponent, Jill Miller Zimon. Flyers alleged that he voted against Medicaid and disenfranchised voters.
Barnes said, “I’m proud to be a 94% voting Democrat in a historic district.” He then criticized the “outright lies” Chris Redfern apparently spread about him.
