Demos President Calls for Virginia Governor Northam to Resign

Statement to be attributed to the President of Demos, K. Sabeel Rahman

Racism by our government officials and elected leadership is intolerable, regardless of party affiliation.

Demos joins in the growing chorus calling for Governor Ralph Northam to resign. The shocking, racist photo is deeply offensive, and Governor Northam's defense of this behavior is even more unconscionable as his path to the governorship was delivered, in part, by Black voters. 

This behavior is absolutely unacceptable for anyone, let alone someone who holds public office. Racism by our government officials and elected leadership is intolerable, regardless of party affiliation. Our country is cleaved by historic and systemic racism and we must do everything we can to root it out at its source. When our public officials espouse racist beliefs – through words or actions – we must hold them accountable.