Mid-South Tea Party Reacts to Racist Accusations

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The NAACP is taking on the Tea Party at its convention this week in Kansas City.
The civil rights group is expected to condemn the Tea Party movement for having so called, "racist elements."

The resolution could be voted on as early as Wednesday. The organizer of the Mid-South Tea Party said the resolution is a distraction.

Mark Herr, the organizer of the Mid-South Tea Party said the NAACP's proposed resolution, accusing tea party groups of engaging in racist behavior, is simply a political ploy.

I believe it's political. If they're afraid of the Tea Party because we want to limit size, scope and power of the government," said Herr.

The resolution, reportedly accuses tea party members of carrying racist signs.
It's also expected to make reference to an incident in March when Tea Party protesters allegedly hurled racial epithets at black lawmakers on Capitol Hill ahead of a health care vote.

Tea Party members said there is no evidence to support those claims. Herr denies the allegations of racism with in the Mid-South Tea Party and said it's not fair to lump the local group together with any other.

"As far as I know, there is no video evidence of racist signs in the mid-south tea party activates," said Herr.

Herr said he wants to start a dialog with local NAACP leaders to discuss the issues.

"Our concern is out of control government and fiscal irresponsibility it doesn't have anything to do with racism," said Herr.

Tuesday, the St. Louis Tea Party passed a resolution of its own, condemning the NCAAP for "engaging in the very conduct it purports to oppose."

We contacted the national press office for the NAACP today and they told us they were no longer commenting on the resolution. We also tried getting in touch with local NAACP leaders but were unable to.