Anthony "Tony" Emanuel Foriest is an American politician who served two terms as a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate for the 24th district.

[1] During his time in office he voted for the North Carolina 2009 Racial Justice Act which opposed the imposition of the death penalty on the basis of race.

And challenge the status quo.” [3] Most people find it very, very difficult to even talk about race, much less trying to solve some of the problems ... You have to understand it takes a tremendous amount of effort if we’re going to dispel some of the myths that have been perpetuated for several hundred years.

People have to understand when you talk about race, it brings up some raw emotions because you’re dispelling things you have been taught, you have seen, you have learned to live with over the years.

[10] In March 2012, Foriest filed to run in the newly redrawn North Carolina's 6th congressional district, held by Republican U.S.