RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Latest on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s yearbook photo of a person in blackface (all times local):
12:08 a.m.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam appears all but certain to resign after losing support from every Democratic state lawmaker and other close allies.
Virginia’s Legislative Black Caucus, the state House Democratic Caucus and the state Senate Democratic caucus all called on Northam to resign late Friday after acknowledging he appeared in a photo from his 1984 medical school yearbook in a racist costume.
Several other influential advocacy groups with strong ties to the Democratic governor, including the League of Conservation Voters and NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, also called on Northam to resign late Friday.
The governor had previously resisted calls for his resignation after the photo went public Friday afternoon.
But he now faces an almost untenable situation without the support of any Democratic lawmakers or other allies.
___
9:50 p.m.
Planned Parenthood is calling on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to resign after he acknowledged appearing in a photo wearing a racist costume.
The abortion-rights group joins a growing list of Democrats and progressive advocacy groups calling for the Democratic governor to step aside.
Northam has apologized for appearing in a photo in which one person is dressed in blackface and another is wearing a full Ku Klux Klan uniform, but he is resisting calls to resign. The photo appeared in his 1984 medical school yearbook.
Pro-choice groups such as Planned Parenthood have been key supporters of Northam during his political career. Northam has recently come under fire from Republicans for supporting looser restrictions on late-term abortions.
___
9:05 p.m.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam says he’s “committed” to serving out the remainder of his term, indicating he does not plan to resign after an old photo of him wearing a racist outfit surfaced.
Northam issued a video statement late Friday apologizing for appearing in a photo in which one person is dressed in blackface and another is wearing a full Ku Klux Klan uniform. The photo was published in Northam’s 1984 medical school yearbook and was made public Friday.
The Democratic governor says he’s “ready to do the hard work of regaining” Virginians’ trust. Northam’s term is set to expire in 2022.
Several prominent Democrats have said Northam should resign, including two presidential hopefuls.
___
8:15 p.m.
Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus say they are “still processing” the news that Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam appeared in a photo in which one person is dressed in blackface and another is wearing a full Ku Klux Klan uniform.
In a news release issued Friday night, the caucus said “what has been revealed is disgusting, reprehensible, and offensive.”
It went on to say that while the caucus has “no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests,” members “are still processing what we have seen about the Governor.”
Northam apologized Friday night for what he called “racist and offensive” costumes that are seen in the photo on a page of his 1984 medical school yearbook.
He did not say which of the two costumes he was wearing.
Democratic presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Julian Castro both tweeted that Northam should step down, as did the president of the NAACP.
Some Republican Virginia lawmakers have done the same.
___
8 p.m.
Two prominent Democratic presidential candidates have joined those calling for Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s resignation after he acknowledged appearing in a photo showing one person dressed in blackface and another in a full Ku Klux Klan uniform.
Democratic California Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted Friday night that Northam should “step aside so the public can heal and move forward together.”
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and presidential candidate Julian Castro tweeted a similar message, saying Northam should resign because his “behavior was racist and unconscionable.”
Some Republican Virginia lawmakers and the NAACP have also called on Northam to step down.
Northam apologized for what he called “racist and offensive” costumes portrayed in the photo on a 1984 medical school yearbook page.
The governor did not say which of the two costumes he was wearing.
___
7:45 p.m.
The NAACP is calling on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to resign over a yearbook photo in which he posed either as a person in blackface or a Ku Klux Klan member.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson tweeted Friday night that “Black face in any manner is always racist and never okay.”
Johnson’s tweet came shortly after Northam apologized for what he called “racist and offensive” costumes portrayed in the photo on a 1984 medical school yearbook page.
The governor did not say which of the two costumes he was wearing.
___
6:30 p.m.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has apologized for a “racist and offensive” costume seen on his 1984 medical school yearbook page.
The photo shows a person in blackface and another in full Ku Klux Klan robes. The governor did not say which costume he was wearing.
The Democratic governor said Friday that the behavior was not in keeping with his values and he will work to heal the damage he has caused.
___
5 p.m.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s 1984 yearbook page shows a picture of a person in blackface and another wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood next to different pictures of the governor.
The Virginian-Pilot said it obtained a copy of the photo Friday from Eastern Virginia Medical School library, which Northam attended. The photos were first published by the conservative news outlet Big League Politics. The Associated Press confirmed the photos.
It’s unclear who the people in the picture are, but the rest of the page is filled with pictures of Northam and lists his undergraduate alma mater and other information about him.
The Democratic governor’s office did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Northam has recently come under fire from Republicans for supporting looser restrictions on late-term abortions.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.