The move by the local elections board blocking Montravias King’s electoral bid drew national media attention to Elizabeth City and provoked outcry for what many have perceived as part of statewide attack by Republican local and state officials on minority and student voting rights. King, a senior political science major and native of Snow Hill, N.C., has resumed his candidacy and today is formally launching his city council campaign.
“I’m extremely excited … We knew all along that we were on the right side of the law and the [state] constitution,” King told Diverse. “I’m grateful that I can fully campaign.”
“We’re of course very happy the state board corrected the mistakes of the local board,” said Anita Earls, the executive director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. “We felt all along the law was on our side and we were prepared to fight it as long and hard as we needed to.”
