Black members of tea party dispute racist claims

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Black members of the tea party movement are disputing allegations of racism within the grass-roots movement and say the claims are merely an attempt to discredit their work.

Black leaders told reporters at a news conference today that the racism attributed to their members is coming from outsiders who infiltrated the organization.

The tea party leaders accused liberals of economic oppression. They promised a second Emancipation Proclamation that would bring another wave of freedom.

Last week, a former leader of the Tea Party Express cut ties with the group. Mark Williams had set off a firestorm after posting a letter on his blog written from "Colored People" to Abraham Lincoln. The post suggested that black people would choose slavery over having to do real work.