Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector
A draft of new bylaws for the Alabama Democratic Party’s governing body restore almost all the diversity caucuses abolished by the party in May, but not one for people with disabilities.
The new bylaws, ordered by the Democratic National Committee in October amid criticism of party leadership, must be voted on by Feb. 1. The bylaws, if approved, would restore caucuses for Hispanics, Native Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and youth.
Josh Raby, the chair of the party’s disability caucus prior to its abolition at the May 6 meeting, said in a phone interview last week that he was told they were removed from the bylaws because of an unclear definition of what a disability caucus is.
“When I received the bylaws, my heart broke, literally, that a party that is supposed to be for the people was excluding people because they couldn’t find a definition of what a disability caucus is,” he said.
Raby said that 23 other states have disability caucuses. He said he is sending those bylaws to Alabama Democratic Party chair Randy Kelley, Vice Chair for Minority Affairs Joe Reed, and others.
Kelley told the Reflector in a Wednesday morning phone interview that the bylaws were still in draft form. He said he has not heard from membership about other concerns.
“I can’t give you the complete update, but we are soliciting input now from the members,” he said.
Reed said in a Wednesday morning interview that disability had a range of definitions.
“We never had a disability caucus until two years ago when they created it a caucus and couldn’t define it,” he said.
When asked why they did not use the definition used by the National Democratic Party, which has a disability caucus, Reed said “we are not required to have every caucus everybody in the world wants.”
Reed said that many other states have much shorter bylaws than Alabama. He said that New Jersey’s bylaws are only nine pages.
The New Jersey Democratic Party has a disability caucus, according to their website.
An ongoing battle
The state Democratic Party has been divided for years over representation of individual groups. In 2019, a faction of the party aligned with then-U.S. Sen. Doug Jones won control of the party and implemented DNC-ordered changes to create diversity caucuses representing the full range of groups supporting the state party.
A faction of the party aligned with Reed, which included Kelley, objected to the new bylaws, arguing they deprived Black Democrats, who provide the party’s main support, of leadership of the state Democratic Party.
Kelley won election as chair in August 2022. At a contentious meeting last May, the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC), the governing body of the party, voted to adopt new bylaws that abolished the new caucuses. Following complaints from membership, including Vice Chair Tabitha Isner, the DNC held hearings this fall and ordered the adoption of new bylaws.
Raby said people with disabilities deserve a seat at the table.
“Republicans should have a disability caucus, independents should have a disability caucus because we are the ones who are always left without a voice,” he said. “We are the ones who get ignored,” he said.
Raby said that he believes those in the disability community have not had proper representation.
“The people in the disability community want to be seen as being a part of this party and seeing that our voices are being heard. I don’t even think we’re being even respected within the DNC. I can’t even tell you who the chair is of the disability caucus for the DNC, but we got one, you know what I’m saying?” he said. “We got one. But in Alabama, we can’t even say we have one.”
Isner said in a phone interview that she was not part of the drafting process and has concerns about the caucuses, but does not know if some of her concerns will be addressed in the final form of the bylaws.
She said that not all of the caucuses have vice-chairs, and she wants to make sure that all groups have equal inclusion and access to input to the plan of affirmative action for inclusion in the party.
“Certainly making sure that all groups are treated equally is critical to DNC’s policies and bylaws,” she said.
The Young Voters Caucus and the Racial Minority Caucus have vice chairs, according to the draft. Kelly said he has been thinking about it and caucuses might not need vice-chairs. Reed says they are satisfied with their bylaws.
Both Isner and Raby said the Democratic Party is intended to be for everyone.
“It’s the Demo-freaking-cratic party,” Raby said. “We’re supposed to be the party for everyone. Not just some people, not just your friends, not just your buddies, but for everyone, and if you can’t be that, change the mission statement of your party.”
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