NPR

Amid Blackface Backlash, Ralph Northam Tells Staff He Has No Plans To Step Down

The Virginia governor's declaration comes roughly a week after the state Capitol was thrown into disarray by the revelation he appeared in blackface decades ago.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam speaks at a news conference at the governor's mansion earlier this month in Richmond.

Updated at 6:57 p.m. ET

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has told his staff that he doesn't intend to resign his office, his communications director, Ofirah Yheskel, told NPR member station WCVE Friday.

The declaration comes roughly a week after a sent Virginia's Capitol into disarray and as most state lawmakers back to their

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
Pro-Palestinian Campus Protesters Face Looming Deadlines And Risk Of Arrest
Hundreds of students have been arrested for participating in pro-Palestinian protests in recent days. And some schools, like Columbia and GW, have given them deadlines to dismantle their encampments.
NPR3 min readAmerican Government
Trump's Immunity Arguments And The Experiences Of The Justices Who Might Support It
Five of the six conservatives spent much of their lives in the Beltway, working in the White House and Justice Department, seeing their administrations as targets of unfair harassment by Democrats.
NPR4 min read
Taylor Swift Fans Mean Business With Tortured Poets Soap, Eras Yarn, Kelce Cookies
Entrepreneurial Swifties are selling crafty products inspired by Taylor Swift's music and style. Swift herself has been known to send notes and even homemade gifts to creative super-fans.

Related Books & Audiobooks