US state governor vows to stay in office despite blackface photo
Ralph Northam, the governor of the US state of Virginia, has vowed to remain in office despite widespread calls for his resignation after a racist photo surfaced in his yearbook page from more than 30 years ago.
Mr Northam said at a news conference that he had prematurely apologised for appearing in a picture of a person in blackface and another wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit.
The photo appeared in his 1984 medical school yearbook.
The Democratic governor said on Saturday that he, in fact, was not in the photo and had never even seen the yearbook until Friday.
The photo is racist and contrary to fundamental American values. I join my colleagues in Virginia calling on Governor Northam to do the right thing so that the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia can heal and move forward.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 2, 2019
His refusal to resign signals a potential bruising fight between Mr Northam and his former supporters.
Leaders in both parties have repeatedly urged Mr Northam to resign, saying he has lost the public’s trust.
The calls for Mr Northam to step down came in a wave after the Democrat had initially apologised for appearing in a photo in which one person is dressed in blackface and another is wearing a full Ku Klux Klan uniform.
The yearbook images were first published on Friday by the conservative news outlet Big League Politics.
The Virginian-Pilot later obtained a copy from Eastern Virginia Medical School, which Mr Northam attended.
The photo shows two people looking at the camera, one in blackface wearing a hat, bow tie and plaid trousers; the other in a full Ku Klux Klan robe.
He later issued a video statement saying he was “deeply sorry” but was still committed to serving the “remainder of my term”.
“I accept responsibility for my past actions and I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust,” Mr Northam said.
These images arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and they’ve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northam’s ability to lead. We should expect more from our elected officials. He should resign.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 2, 2019
Leading Democrats who are running for the party’s nomination for the 2020 presidential election added their voices to those calling for Mr Northam to quit.
Leaders are called to a higher standard, and the stain of racism should have no place in the halls of government. The Governor of Virginia should step aside so the public can heal and move forward together.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 2, 2019
Two African-American senators and would-be nominees, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, joined the calls.
“These images arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and they’ve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northam’s ability to lead,” Mr Booker said on Friday on Twitter.
“We should expect more from our elected officials. He should resign.”
It doesn’t matter if he is a Republican or a Democrat. This behavior was racist and unconscionable. Governor Northam should resign.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) February 2, 2019
Ms Harris said the “stain of racism should have no place in the halls of government.
“The Governor of Virginia should step aside so the public can heal and move forward together”.
Former US housing secretary Julian Castro, who has also entered the race, said: “This behaviour was racist and unconscionable. Governor Northam should resign.”
US governor's future in doubt as he loses key support after racist photo emerges
A United States governor has been urged to resign over a racist photo in which he appeared more than 30 years ago.
Virginia governor Ralph Northam appears to have almost no choice but to leave office after losing support from virtually the entire state Democratic party and other key allies.
The calls for Mr Northam to step down came in a wave after the Democrat had apologised for appearing in a photo in which one person is dressed in blackface and another is wearing a full Ku Klux Klan uniform.
The photo appeared in his 1984 medical school yearbook.
The yearbook images were first published on Friday by the conservative news outlet Big League Politics.
The Virginian-Pilot later obtained a copy from Eastern Virginia Medical School, which Mr Northam attended.
The photo shows two people looking at the camera - one in blackface wearing a hat, bow tie and plaid trousers; the other in a full Ku Klux Klan robe.
In his first apology, issued in a written statement, Mr Northam called the costume he wore "clearly racist and offensive", but he did not say which one he had worn.
He later issued a video statement saying he was "deeply sorry" but was still committed to serving the "remainder of my term".
"I accept responsibility for my past actions and I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust," Mr Northam said.
But Mr Northam appears to have virtually no path forward to remain in office without any institutional support.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the photograph "racist and contrary to fundamental American values".
She said on Saturday via Twitter that she is joining her colleagues in Virginia in calling for Mr Northam "to do the right thing" so that the people in Virginia can heal and move on.
