At a recent council meeting, a former city councilor and local faith leaders expressed their frustration and disappointment with the choice of a new council member.Leaders with the Columbus Chapter of the NAACP and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance had strong words at Wednesday’s news conference.

They’re in-house Negroes,” the Rev. Johnny Flakes III said, referring to the two Black councilors who supported this move. “They carry the buckets of the water, and they have sold their souls.”