In a stunning move, a photo of two men — one wearing a KKK hood and the other in blackface — recently surfaced from the yearbook page of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam when he was graduating medical school in 1984.
Northam initially claimed responsibility for the photo, only to later renege on his apology and suggest that it wasn't him, after all. While appearing in this type of photo would in itself be disqualifying, to suggest he's vindicated by the suggestion that he chose to highlight a picture of others in racist garb is no better.
Racism has no place in the Democratic party, and while it was over 30 years ago, Northam was graduating medical school and certainly old enough to know the difference between right and wrong.
Democratic leaders have called for the resignation of Governor Northam, including nearly every 2020 presidential candidate. We, the undersigned, also believe that he must step aside so that Virginia can move forward under new leadership and begin the healing process.
Everyone makes mistakes, but in the Trump era, Democrats expect that there to be no ambiguity whatsoever in terms of our elected officials' moral fabric. We need representatives who have lived their lives by the tenets they claim to uphold.
