Wes Bellamy on Northam: ‘For the Betterment of Our Commonwealth of Virginia, He Has To Step Down’

EXCERPT:

BELLAMY: "I think Governor Northam, again, as I alluded to in the post, is a friend. I believe him to be a good person. However, I think for the betterment of our commonwealth of Virginia, he has to step down and step aside. To me, it’s rather personal for a variety of different reasons. I know firsthand what it’s like to have things that you’ve done in the past come out and have individuals come out against you, and you regret some of the issues — excuse me, some of the things that you did while you were younger. However, it’s also really important for us as a commonwealth, specifically on the 400th year of the first group of enslaved Africans stepping foot here in this state, when we’re coming off of the very personal attacks of white supremacists and members of the Ku Klux Klan here in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, it is very difficult for me to see a man who I know in the governor in either a picture in KKK garb or deep blackface. I know he came out and said it wasn’t him, but honestly, after seeing the press conference and seeing him attempt to do the moonwalk, of all things, it shows, in my personal opinion, that he doesn’t quite get it. All of his colleagues have essentially stated they are not willing to work with him. I think if the Governor truly wants to make this right, which I believe he still can, he needs to step aside and let’s move forward with the real tangible work of healing and reconciliation, and we can do that with our actions, not just with our words."