Politics

Gov. Ralph Northam Pulls Out Of Event Where NAACP Was Set To Protest

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

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Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam pulled out of a previously scheduled fundraiser on Sunday.

In a statement to WTOP, Northam cited safety concerns for reneging on the event. The embattled governor was planning to raise money for Democratic state Sen. Dave Marsden at an event in Burke, Virginia. (RELATED: Virginia Senate Minority Leader Doubles Down In Support Of Northam)

According to WTOP, both the Fairfax County NAACP and the Virginia Republican Party had protests planned for the event.

The Virginia Republican Party released a statement mocking Northam and Marsden:

“Trouble in paradise?” they tweeted. “Maybe a rift growing between Governor Blackface and the (Virginia Senate Democrats)?”


Northam faced an outpouring of calls for his resignation after a medical school yearbook surfaced in February that showed a picture of one man wearing blackface, and another donning a Ku Klux Klan costume. Despite the picture appearing on his yearbook page, Northam has repeatedly denied that he is either of the men in the photo. The governor has also been defiant in his refusal to resign, despite months of outrage from both sides of the aisle.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, accompanied by his wife Pamela Northam announces he will not resign during a news conference in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. February 2, 2019. Picture taken February 2, 2019. REUTERS/ Jay Paul

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, accompanied by his wife Pamela Northam announces he will not resign during a news conference in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. February 2, 2019. Picture taken February 2, 2019. REUTERS/ Jay Paul

While Northam has stayed in the office, his approval ratings have not recovered.

A survey conducted by Christopher Newport University and released to the public last week showed Northam’s approval ratings 19 points underwater, and lower than President Donald Trump.

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