(WRIC) – A photo released on Friday afternoon of Governor Ralph Northam’s 1984 yearbook page from Eastern Virginia Medical School shows two men, one in blackface and another in a KKK robe.
The two people in the photograph are holding what appear to be beer cans and the one in blackface is wearing sunglasses and smiling.
After multiple requests for comment, Northam released a statement apologizing for appearing in the photo but did not specify which person in the photo he is:
“Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive.
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.
This behavior 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. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment.
I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their Governor.”
– Gov. Ralph Northam
The yearbook page is titled Ralph Shearer Northam and also shows images of Northam in front of a Corvette, wearing a jacket and tie and one of him wearing a cowboy hat.
The Democratic governor graduated from the medical school, based in Norfolk, in 1984 after attending VMI.
The yearbook page displays details from Northam, including his alma mater, interest and a quote.
The alma mater listed is Virginia Military Institute and pediatrics is listed as an interest.
The quote on the page reads: “There are more old drunks than old doctors in this world so I think I’ll have another beer.”
Northam’s yearbook photos were first released by the site Big League Politics on Friday afternoon.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson tweeted after Northam’s apologize and called for the governor’s resignation.
Black face in any manner is always racist and never okay. No matter the party affiliation, we can not stand for such behavior, which is why the @NAACP is calling for the resignation of Virginia Governor @RalphNortham— Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) February 2, 2019
After the controversial photos were released, 8News found Northam’s VMI yearbook picture, located on its digital archive site, which displays a racially offensive nickname underneath.
Virginia’s Republican leaders in the General Assembly called for Northam to explain the photograph: “This is a deeply disturbing and offensive photograph in need of an immediate explanation by the Governor,” read a statement from the office of House Speaker Kirk Cox.
Mayor Levar M. Stoney shared his feelings with News13’s Nexstar sister station 8News in a brief statement. Stoney also expressed his desire for Northam to respond to the reports: “This is deeply disappointing and offensive. I want to hear what Governor Northam has to say on this.”