Richmond, VA—The members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus (VLBC) strongly condemn the atrocious racist comments posted on Facebook by then Hampton Electoral Board Chair David Dietrich, who has since resigned. His racist Facebook post has far-reaching consequences beyond the Hampton Roads area.

Members of the VLBC were glad to see members of the GOP call for Dietrich’s resignation and invite more members of the GOP to condemn his racist language and behaviors. If Republicans do not immediately denounce this prejudiced behavior, then they are complicit in perpetuating the scourge of racism.

As evidenced throughout the history of our nation and our Commonwealth, racism is not always as blatant and visible as this particular case. Racism can be deeply rooted in policies, laws, and systematic actions that disproportionately impact Black people. In addition to the GOP denouncing the racist Facebook post, the VLBC
calls for consistent efforts within the GOP to root out racist behaviors and policies.

It is the VLBC’s mission to support inclusion and diversity initiatives across the Commonwealth. While Virginia has made significant strides to address societal and structural inequalities, the reality is that thousands of Black Virginians everyday still contend with deep-rooted racial discrimination. Incidents like these only serve to underscore how very far we still have to go in the fight for equity.

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