ACLU lobbyist engages in profane Twitter spat with WBT host

Image of Twitter biography of Kristie Puckett Williams.

RALEIGH — A lobbyist registered with the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina launched numerous profane and explicit remarks against WBT radio host Pete Kaliner and others on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Kristie Puckett Williams, who according to her biography on Twitter is a “formerly incarcerated abolitionist, ACLU of NC Dep. Dir of Engagement and lobbyist,” first said the Senate Rules Committee’s hearing about SB 49, the Republican-sponsored Parents’ Bill of Rights act, to being passed “in the cloak of night.” That prompted a reply by Kaliner, who noted that most government meetings occur after 5 p.m.

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Kaliner’s challenge prompted a litany of insults from Puckett Williams. North State Journal is linking the tweets in question due to their vulgarity.

https://twitter.com/kristie_1979/status/1622954636331339777?s=20&t=SYugMA9jzoqDsZ0s6CEy5w

https://twitter.com/kristie_1979/status/1622961902593744897?s=20&t=Ya00PHAAn7O7CAs9ybazpg

According the N.C. Secretary of State’s office, Puckett Williams is indeed registered to lobby for the ACLU of North Carolina and has been since 2021.

She also sits on the board of the N.C. Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities, which includes names such as N.C. Justice Center Executive Director Rick Glazier.

In a statement to North State Journal, the ACLU of North Carolina said of the Twitter comments, “Statements made by employees of the ACLU of North Carolina do not reflect the opinions or policies of our organization. We respect the right of everyone, including employees of ACLU of NC, to exercise the constitutional right to free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment, which includes the right to express their views as individuals on their own personal social media platforms.”

*An earlier version of this story included Durham Democratic Rep. Marcia Morey as a member of the N.C. Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities. Morey said she resigned from the commission last month in comments to North State Journal.

About Matt Mercer 472 Articles
Matt Mercer is the editor in chief of North State Journal and can be reached at [email protected].