Black day for Virginia guv
That’s not me in racist photo, Northam says
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s governor Saturday vowed to remain in office despite widespread calls for his resignation after a photo of racist costumes in a school yearbook surfaced.
His refusal to step down could signal a potentially long and bruising fight with his former supporters.
Gov. Ralph Northam said at a news conference he had prematurely apologized for appearing in what he called a “horrific” picture of a person in blackface and another wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit.
The photo appeared on Northam’s profile page in his 1984 medical school yearbook.
The Democratic governor said he had never even seen the yearbook before Friday and that he was blindsided by what was on his page.
“That is not my picture. That is not my person in that picture,” Northam told reporters at the executive mansion in Richmond.
While he acknowledged apologizing Friday, Northam said he had no recollection of wearing such racist garb.
He spoke to classmates from medical school who agreed.
He said he was in the process of obtaining a yearbook so he could try to determine how the photo got on his profile page.
It remained unclear whether Northam’s remarks would calm the wave of criticism sparked by the yearbook’s contents.
Before he spoke, the Virginia Democratic party issued a statement demanding Northam’s immediate resignation.
The Virginia legislative black caucus, the state house Democratic caucus and the state senate Democratic caucus all called on Northam to resign late Friday, along with several key progressive groups that have been some of the governor’s closest political allies.
The yearbook images were first published Friday afternoon by the conservative news outlet Big League Politics.
The Virginian-Pilot later obtained a copy from Eastern Virginia Medical School, which Northam attended.
The photo shows two people looking at the camera — one in blackface wearing a hat, bow tie and plaid pants, the other in a full KKK robe.
An Associated Press reporter saw the yearbook page and confirmed its authenticity at the medical school.
In his first apology Friday, Northam called the costume he wore “clearly racist and offensive,” but he didn’t say which one he had worn.
He later issued a video statement saying he was “deeply sorry” but 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,” Northam said.