(RALEIGH) -- A state legislator is engaged in fiery rhetoric with the state NAACP after the arrest of that organization's Executive Director William Barber. In an email to NAACP attorney Jennifer Marsh, Rep. Steven LaRoque of Kinston called Barber and the entire organization "racist."

LaRoque is not backing down from that statement.  "It seems to be that's where he (Barber) and people like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton, and Louis Farrakhan all derive their power and their effluence, and probably a lot of their money comes from race baiting and I'm sick of it," said LaRoque.

Barber was arrested during a session of the General Assembly on Tuesday. He said the current Republican-led Legislature is radical. 

"Extremist have taken over the General Assembly. Their policies and legislation give a whole new meaning to trickle down economics and turing back the clock.  They believe in holding down the poor economics, undermining civil rights," said Barber.

Barber was released from jail early Wednesday.