Washington: Virginia's governor acknowledged on Friday that he was photographed more than 30 years ago in a costume that was "clearly racist and offensive" -- admitting that he had dressed either as a member of the Ku Klux Klan or in blackface -- but resisted a flood of calls for his resignation from national and state Democrats.
"I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now," Gov Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said in a statement on Friday evening.
"I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust," he said in a video later released on Twitter, adding that he was committed to fighting for Virginians "through the remainder of my term."
Mr Northam issued his statement hours after the photograph -- which was included on his 1984 yearbook page from Eastern Virginia Medical School and appeared alongside other pictures of himself -- became public. Neither person in the black-and-white photograph was identified, and Mr Northam, a pediatric neurologist who was elected Virginia's governor in 2017, did not confirm which costume he had worn.
He faced intense pressure on Friday night to step down, including calls from five Democratic presidential candidates: Senators Kamala Harris of California, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Julián Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio.
Calls for his resignation also came from Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP; Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond; at least three Democratic members of the state's congressional delegation, Republicans Donald McEachin, Abigail Spanberger and Elaine Luria; and the Democratic state House and Senate caucuses
Mr McEachin, who is African-American, said he was "deeply disappointed and dismayed by the horrific picture of Governor Northam that surfaced today".
"Virginia has a particularly sordid history with racism from the first enslaved Africans on our shores, to the capital of the Confederacy to massive resistance to the struggles African-American Virginians face today," he said in a statement.
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus initially stopped just short of demanding his resignation, but after meeting with the governor, it said, "It is time for him to resign so that Virginia can begin the process of healing."
"What has been revealed is disgusting, reprehensible, and offensive. We feel complete betrayal," the caucus said in an earlier statement, adding that "these pictures rip off the scabs of an excruciatingly painful history and are a piercing reminder of this nation's sins."
Virginia's two Democratic senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine -- former governors themselves -- gently nudged Mr Northam toward the exits, issuing simultaneous statements urging him to reflect on how to move forward. Mr Northam's predecessor, Terry McAuliffe, was more direct, saying that the governor's situation had become "untenable" and that it was time for him to resign.
The chairman of the state Republican Party, Jack Wilson, called for the governor's resignation and condemned the picture as "wholly inappropriate" before Mr Northam admitted he was in it.
However, some Virginia Democrats defended Mr Northam.
"The picture was in extremely poor taste, no question about that, but his life since then has been anything but," said Richard Saslaw, the Democratic leader of the Virginia Senate. "He's had a career of helping people of all races."
In his written statement, Mr Northam said the photograph "is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service". NYT
