NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
MADISON, AL, August 12, 2026 — Indian American Democratic candidate Hanu Karlapalem has condemned what he described as an explicitly racist social media attack questioning his American citizenship, Indian heritage and civil rights record, and is calling on his Republican opponent and Alabama GOP leaders to publicly reject the rhetoric.
Karlapalem, the Democratic nominee for Alabama House District 4, responded after Tom Fredricks, a Priceville businessman and former Republican candidate for the Alabama Legislature, posted comments about him on Facebook.
In the post, Fredricks took issue with Karlapalem’s criticism of Republican incumbent Rep. Parker Moore and invoked Karlapalem’s Indian background.
“This guy is Indian. Full on,” Fredricks wrote. He went on to make broad assertions about India’s caste system and skin color before saying Karlapalem “needs to own it and disavow his Indian heritage” before highlighting his civil rights credentials.
Fredricks also questioned Karlapalem’s association with the NAACP. The post was accompanied by an image containing Karlapalem’s criticism of Alabama Senate Bill 21.
“Silence is a choice,” Karlapalem said in a statement responding to the post. “When a prominent Alabama Republican attacked my citizenship and my NAACP record in explicitly racist terms, I responded. Now Parker Moore and Alabama GOP leadership need to answer a simple question: do you stand with this rhetoric, or against it?”
“I am a U.S. citizen, full stop, no asterisk. My record speaks for itself,” he added.
Karlapalem’s campaign said that after he responded directly to Fredricks, Fredricks continued the exchange by tagging him in a video clip mocking racial identity.
“When confronted directly, instead of correcting the record, he doubled down and mocked it,” Karlapalem said.
Fredricks has previously sought Republican nominations for the Alabama Legislature, including running against Moore. Karlapalem’s campaign also identified him as the owner of Fredricks Outdoor and said the business served as a North Alabama headquarters for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. NRI Pulse has not independently verified all of those biographical claims.
The controversy comes as Karlapalem has been publicly opposing Alabama SB21, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require candidates for numerous state and local offices — including members of the Alabama Legislature — to be “natural born” U.S. citizens. If enacted and approved by voters, the proposal would exclude naturalized U.S. citizens from those offices. The bill was introduced by Republican state Sen. Donnie Chesteen.
Karlapalem, a naturalized U.S. citizen, has argued that the proposal would create two classes of American citizens.
He connected Fredricks’ comments to that broader debate.
“Parker Moore has said nothing about SB21, and now a prominent figure in his own party has attacked me in explicitly racist terms. Silence is a choice,” Karlapalem said. “Alabama Republican leadership should be on notice: constituents are watching, and this kind of rhetoric from prominent party figures needs to stop.”
Benard Simelton, Karlapalem’s campaign chairman, also called on Fredricks to apologize and urged Moore to repudiate the comments.
“As a U.S. Air Force veteran, a Life Member and former President of NAACP Alabama State Conference, and as Hanu’s Campaign Chair, I am very aware of his strong record of fighting for civil and human rights and equality for all people,” Simelton said.
Karlapalem is a longtime Madison resident, small technology business owner and University of Alabama in Huntsville graduate. His campaign identifies him as a Life Member and former Second Vice President of the Limestone County NAACP. Those details are also reflected in previously published coverage of his candidacy.
Karlapalem will face Republican incumbent Parker Moore in the Nov. 3 general election for Alabama House District 4. Both candidates advanced to the general election without primary opposition. District 4 includes portions of Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties.
As of publication, NRI Pulse had not independently confirmed whether Moore or the Alabama Republican Party had issued a response to Fredricks’ comments.
