Why did township lawyer blurt out ‘white power’ at meeting? He had no explanation

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Why did township lawyer blurt out ‘white…

Careers Why did township lawyer blurt out ‘white power’ at meeting? He had no explanation

By Debra Cassens Weiss

December 6, 2023, 10:00 am CST

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A Michigan lawyer who represented Mt. Morris Township since the 1990s has resigned after he raised his fist at a meeting and blurted out “white power.” Image from Shutterstock.

A Michigan lawyer who represented Mt. Morris Township since the 1990s has resigned after he raised his fist at a meeting and blurted out “white power.”

Lawyer Leo P. Carey acknowledged that he made the remark at the Nov. 27 meeting but said he isn’t a racist, Jolena Sims, the township supervisor, told MLive.com.

He offered no explanation to Sims or trustee Dora King, the story reports. He raised his fist as trustees finished a vote. Sims then asked Carey whether he had a comment, and he replied, “No, I’m just … white power.”

According to King, Carey “said he didn’t even realize it was coming out of his mouth.” King and Sims said the comment appeared unrelated to anything going on at the meeting.

King told MLive.com that the remark was out of character for Carey. Sims, who is Black, offered a similar assessment.

“Leo has been good to me,” Sims told the publication. “To see him go out like this hurts.”

Sims and King said noise and acoustics prevented them from hearing exactly what Carey said at the time, and the meeting continued. Sims reviewed the meeting video after a resident complained.

Carey did not immediately reply to an ABA Journal email and voicemail requesting comment. The State Bar of Michigan website reports that the Flint, Michigan, lawyer was admitted to the bar in 1985.

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