Three North Carolina counties ordered to restore voter lists

A federal judge on Friday ordered elections boards in three North Carolina counties to restore voter registrations canceled too close to Election Day after the NAACP sued over thousands of the challenges.

U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs issued the ruling after an emergency hearing earlier in the week on NAACP allegations that at least three counties purged voter rolls through a process disproportionately targeting blacks.

Biggs said the local elections boards must "take all steps necessary" to restore voter registrations canceled during the 90 days preceding Election Day on Tuesday.

Read more: Three North Carolina counties ordered to restore voter lists

Black clergy making last second push to get out the vote

Black clergy are taking to the pulpits and the streets nationwide this weekend in hopes of energizing black voters ahead of Election Day, aiming to make a difference in the presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Many expect a drop in black voter participation this year, primarily because Barack Obama, the nation’s first African-American president, is not on the ballot. His historic candidacy in 2008 and re-election in 2012 helped to fuel record black turnout.

“Voting, for us, is both a spiritual and a political issue,” said Rev. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP and architect of the Moral Monday Movement in North Carolina. Barber will be one of several clergy at the historic Riverside Church in New York City Sunday evening for a revival service to encourage voting on Tuesday.

Read more: Black clergy making last second push to get out the vote

N.J. Democrats denounce racist Republican campaign flyer

A group of elected New Jersey officials released the following statement in response to a Republican campaign flyer that is overtly racist. Don't take my word for it you can look at the flier and read that response below.

This statement comes from the following elected officials. Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, NJ State Democratic Party Chairman John Currie, Essex County Democratic Party Chairman Leroy Jones, Senator Teresa Ruiz, Senator Ron Rice, Governor Dick Codey, Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson, Assemblyman Tom Giblin Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor-Marin and Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver.

The Republican Party of Burlington County has mailed local residents an appeal for votes based on undisguised racism that relies on racial and economic stereotypes. The flyer states, “If you don’t want Burlington County to turn into this part of New Jersey, then vote for the people who make our county a special place to live. The mailer features a large map of northern New Jersey with Newark in large bold lettering and a large red push pin stuck into Newark.

The not so subtle message is that Newark and its suburbs are all that white voters fear in a community: Black, Latino, Poor, Dangerous, and Blighted. The characterization is slanderous and false. It exploits the worst racial stereotyping. The message is that if you elect Democrats, minorities will take over your community and destroy it. You will be driven out.

The theme of the Burlington Republicans is the same divisive rhetoric as the Trump campaign and its cheerleader-in-chief, Chris Christie. The Trump campaign is toxic and contagious. It’s blatant racism has emboldened local Republican candidates and given them permission to campaign on a message that has heretofore been confined to white supremacists. We urge the voters of Burlington County to come out and vote in record numbers this year. Every vote against the Burlington Republican candidates and against Donald Trump will send a message that our communities reject those who seek to divide us for political gain. And we call on our legislative colleagues of both parties to stand with us and denounce the hateful Burlington Republican campaign.

Georgia governor refers to African Americans as "colored people"

During a speech about an education proposal Georgia Governor and Trump supporter, Nathan Deal refereed to African Americans as colored people. Deal later tried to say that he was clumsily talking about the NAACP and apologized. Even with that apology the fact that he used the term "colored people" says a lot about the man's mindset. Watch more on this story below:

Black church set on fire & vandalized with "Vote Trump" graffiti

Hopewell Baptist Church, a black church in Greenville Mississippi was set on fire and vandalized with graffiti that read "Vote Trump". Most of the damage to the 111-year-old church was to the sanctuary and there have been no reports of injury.

During a press conference officials that the incident is now being investigated as a hate crime. Greenville Police Chief Freddie Cannon called the incident "a form of voting intimidation".

The FBI released a statement on the burning:

“The FBI Jackson Division is aware of the situation in Greenville, and we are working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to determine if any civil rights crimes were committed.”