Lafayette School Boss Hit For ‘Black Mafia’ Remark

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The former head of Lafeyette's NAACP branch is attacking parish school Superintendent Pat Cooper for saying earlier this month that a "black mafia" influences how African Americans vote in parish school board elections.

The move comes as Cooper awaits a decision on a lawsuit where he seeks to bar three school board members from disciplining him. The superintendent claims the three are too biased to be fair to him.

District Judge Durwood Conque said after a hearing Friday that he expects to announce a decision Wednesday.

Patricia Colbert-Cormier says Cooper made the remarks at an Oct. 2 luncheon, promoting the candidacy of a challenger to a current board member.

The Advocate reports Cooper declined to elaborate on what he meant by "black mafia," but didn't deny using the phrase.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com