AUSTIN – Three weeks in and already some want Larry McDougal to resign as the State Bar of Texas president.
On Friday, McDougal made a Facebook comment about an election worker wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt, stating that the worker was in violation of electioneering laws prohibiting campaigning at polling places.
The post sparked a social media firestorm. A few hours later a comment he made in 2015 was unearthed, in which he called BLM a “terrorist group.”
Over the weekend, the Texas Bar posted this on its website: “Online comments made by Larry McDougal regarding #BlackLivesMatter do not reflect the values of the State Bar of Texas and we denounce them in the strongest terms.
Names attached to the Bar’s joint statement include past President Randy Sorrels and President-elect Sylvia Borunda Firth.
“We know that the State Bar of Texas has an obligation to improve the quality of legal services, and this includes improving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our bar,” the statement reads. “We know many of our members don’t feel included as part of the bar or question the bar’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“We pledge to change that.”
McDougal posted a video apology on Saturday, which can be viewed on YouTube.
“Let me be clear. As a Texas attorney who has sworn to uphold the constitution of this state and of the United States, I denounce racism in any and all forms,” said McDougal in the video. “I want to assure you those comments do not reflect my beliefs today.”