Former Vice President Al Gore wants Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to redeem himself for his blackface scandal by blocking the construction of a natural gas pipeline compressor station in his state, which he called a form of environmental racism.
Gore said at a rally Tuesday night that Northam should make good on his promise for racial reconciliation by blocking the pipeline project.
“This is an ideal opportunity for him to say, ‘I’ve seen the light,’” Gore said.
Northam fell into scandal weeks ago after the surfacing of his medical school yearbook page, which depicted one person in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan costume. Since then, he has faced calls to resign but has attempted to redeem himself in order to remain in office.
[Opinion: I’m an African-American, and I don’t think Ralph Northam should resign]
Gore spoke in the Virginia town of Union Hill where the natural gas compressor station is being built, calling it a”vivid example of environmental racism.”
The town, which Gore made as one of his stops on his environmental justice tour, was founded by emancipated slaves.
“This proposed pipeline is a reckless, racist rip-off,” Gore said.
On Wednesday, Northam canceled a planned visit Thursday in a rehabilitation tour to Virginia Union University, a historically black university in Richmond, out of respect for students’ wishes that he not attend.
While I appreciate @VAUnion1865‘s invitation to attend tomorrow’s chapel service, I respect the wishes of the student body. In lieu of my attendance, I will host the Richmond 34 at the Executive Mansion on Friday to honor their bravery and courage. pic.twitter.com/qIdX05cvsa
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) February 20, 2019
“I welcome opportunities to listen, learn, and discuss how we can move Virginia forward,” Northam said in a letter to the student government association president.
