Virginia Republicans offer reward for blackface photo of attorney general

Weeks after Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, one of the commonwealth's top three Democrats, confessed to wearing blackface at a college party in 1980, the Republican Party of Virginia wants photographic evidence.

As Gov. Ralph Northam and Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax faces controversy over blackface and sexual assault allegations respectively, Herring issued a statement revealing that he nd two friends dressed up to look like rappers they listened to during their time at the University of Virginia, including Kurtis Blow.

Herring said he wore brown makeup and a wig as a 19-year-old undergraduate.

"It sounds ridiculous even now writing it. But because of our ignorance and glib attitudes - and because we did not have an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of others - we dressed up and put on wigs and brown makeup," he said.

"That conduct clearly shows that, as a young man, I had a callous and inexcusable lack of awareness and insensitivity to the pain my behavior could inflict on others. It was really a minimization of both people of color, and a minimization of a horrific history I knew well even then."

At the time, rumors circulated that a photo of that incident existed, but nearly a month later, such a photo has not been revealed.

Herring, who announced plans earlier this year to run for governor in 2021, was among those who

urged Northam to resign

as governor after the discovery of a photo of someone in blackface on his 1984 medical school yearbook page. The photo that appeared in Northam's half-page profile shows someone in blackface standing next to another person in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe.

Fairfax, in line to be governor if Northam were to resign, has been

accused of sexual misconduct

, which he denies.

Earlier this week, Herring made his first public appearance since the revelations, apologizing for his actions and saying he's grown from his mistakes.

My use of blackface was a dumb, cruel, and racist action that dehumanized people of color, and minimized a horrific history of exploitation and oppression,” he wrote in an Op-Ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch . “I am deeply sorry for the pain it has caused, especially to members of the African-American community who have placed their trust in me.”

Many of the Democrats who called for Northam's resignation have been more forgiving of Herring, who would be replaced by Republican Kirk Cox if he stepped down. Northam would be replaced by Fairfax.

The Republican Party of Virginia, on the other hand, is not backing down.

In a press release issued on March 5, the party said "Herring stated that he spoke with 'college friends' about his appearance in blackface and double checked if anyone had photo evidence of his indiscretions. Herring claims to not know if there is a photo, but does anyone really believe him? The Republican Party of Virginia is seeking further evidence of Mark Herring’s blackface and the witnesses to his racist past."

So the party states that they are offering a $1,000 reward for a "verified copy" of a photo showing Herring in blackface or verifiable contact information for one of his UVA fraternity brothers who could produce such a photo.

John March, spokesman for the party, said the reward is only available for the first person to provide a verifiable photo.

Speaking this week, Herring defended his decision to call for the governor's resignation, saying he only did so when it became clear that Northam had lost the public's trust. The governor initially apologized for being in a racist picture that surfaced in his 1984 medical school yearbook. A day later, Northam said he wasn't in the picture but had dressed in blackface during a dance competition the same year.

"For me, it was really about the public trust and I want to be clear about this: I would hold myself to the same standard," Herring said.

Critics have assailed both Northam and Fairfax for how they've handled their respective scandals. Northam's been ridiculed for an awkward performance at a news conference while Fairfax has been criticized for comparing himself to Jim Crow-era lynching victims.

Herring, though, kept an extremely low profile and all but disappeared after issuing his initial statement, which can be found below.

Republicans on Monday said Herring's re-emergence rang hollow.

"Mark Herring thought appearing in blackface was worth resignation when it was Ralph Northam. Now he's tying himself in knots trying to explain why his blackface scandal is different," said Garren Shipley, Virginia communications director for the Republican National Committee.

The attorney general did not directly respond to questions about whether he still thinks Northam should resign. The governor has resisted widespread calls to step down, instead saying he wants to focus on racial reconciliation during his remaining three years in office. Herring has said that is what he wants to do as well.

Before the blackface scandals erupted, Herring had said he planned to run for governor in 2021. He said Monday that those plans are not on his mind at the moment.

"Obviously, I am not thinking about that at all. What I am focused on is what has happened in Virginia over the last month and what I might be able to do to repair the damage," Herring said.

Herring's initial statement is below:

"The very bright light that is shining on Virginia right now is sparking a painful but, I think we all hope, important conversation. The stakes are high, and our spirits are low. "I am sure we all have done things at one time or another in our lives that show poor judgment, and worse yet, have caused some level of pain to others. I have a glaring example from my past that I have thought about with deep regret in the many years since, and certainly each time I took a step forward in public service, realizing that my goals and this memory could someday collide and cause pain for people I care about, those who stood with me in the many years since, or those who I hoped to serve while in office. "In 1980, when I was a 19-year-old undergraduate in college, some friends suggested we attend a party dressed like rappers we listened to at the time, like Kurtis Blow, and perform a song. It sounds ridiculous even now writing it. But because of our ignorance and glib attitudes – and because we did not have an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of others – we dressed up and put on wigs and brown makeup. "This was a onetime occurrence and I accept full responsibility for my conduct. That conduct clearly shows that, as a young man, I had a callous and inexcusable lack of awareness and insensitivity to the pain my behavior could inflict on others. It was really a minimization of both people of color, and a minimization of a horrific history I knew well even then. "Although the shame of that moment has haunted me for decades, and though my disclosure of it now pains me immensely, what I am feeling in no way compares to the betrayal, the shock, and the deep pain that Virginians of color may be feeling. Where they have deserved to feel heard, respected, understood, and honestly represented, I fear my actions have contributed to them being forced to revisit and feel a historical pain that has never been allowed to become history. "This conduct is in no way reflective of the man I have become in the nearly 40 years since. "As a senator and as attorney general, I have felt an obligation to not just acknowledge but work affirmatively to address the racial inequities and systemic racism that we know exist in our criminal justice system, in our election processes, and in other institutions of power. I have long supported efforts to empower communities of color by fighting for access to healthcare, making it easier and simpler to vote, and twice defended the historic re-enfranchisement of former felons before the Supreme Court of Virginia. I have launched efforts to make our criminal justice system more just, fair, and equal by addressing implicit bias in law enforcement, establishing Virginia’s first-ever program to improve re-entry programs in local jails, and pushing efforts to reform the use of cash bail. And I have tried to combat the rise in hate crimes and white supremacist violence that is plaguing our Commonwealth and our country. "That I have contributed to the pain Virginians have felt this week is the greatest shame I have ever felt. Forgiveness in instances like these is a complicated process, one that necessarily cannot and should not be decided by anyone but those directly affected by the transgressor, should forgiveness be possible or appropriate at all. In the days ahead, honest conversations and discussions will make it clear whether I can or should continue to serve as attorney general, but no matter where we go from here, I will say that from the bottom of my heart, I am deeply, deeply sorry for the pain that I cause with this revelation."

John March

Communications Director

Republican Party of Virginia

540.460.6242

jmarch@rpv.org

RPV Offers $1000 Reward for Mark Herring Blackface Photo/Fraternity Yearbook

Richmond, VA - There has been much talk of a picture of Mark Herring in blackface existing in a UVA Sigma Chi fraternity yearbook from his time there.

Herring stated that he spoke with "college friends" about his appearance in blackface and double checked if anyone had photo evidence of his indiscretions. Herring claims to not know if there is a photo, but does anyone really believe him? The Republican Party of Virginia is seeking further evidence of Mark Herring’s blackface and the witnesses to his racist past.

The Republican Party of Virginia is offering a $1000 reward for either a verified copy of a picture of Mark Herring in blackface or verifiable contact information for Herring's Sigma Chi fraternity brothers from Herring's time as an undergraduate that ultimately leads to a verified picture of Mark Herring in blackface.*

*Reward only available to first person to provide verifiable photograph.