Romney: Racism and discrimination should be 'categorically and consistently' rejected

Romney: Racism and discrimination should be 'categorically and consistently' rejected

(Kristin Murphy, KSL)


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SALT LAKE CITY — On the anniversary of last year’s white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned deadly, U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney said "equivocating" racism should disqualify one from being elected.

Romney published an essay titled “As I See It: Race and Equality” on his website Friday. In the essay, he discussed the racial issues that have surfaced since the events in Charlottesville, as well as other civil rights issues and immigration topics.

“As citizens of a nation founded on the principle of human equality, we must categorically and consistently reject racism and discrimination,” Romney wrote. “We must insist that those we elect as our leaders respect and embrace Americans of every race, sexual orientation, gender, and national origin.”

Democrat Senate candidate Jenny Wilson, Romney’s opponent in the November election, issued a statement about the Charlottesville anniversary Saturday morning.

She said she was "horrified" that a rally similar to last year's violent event would be taking place in Washington, D.C. on Sunday.

"I’m praying for peace today," Wilson said in an emailed statement. "All elected officials — from our President to local officials — must do everything within their power to decry racism and intolerance, and use their platform to hold those who purport bigotry accountable.”

Romney cited the Declaration of Independence and Constitution affirmations that all are created equal, saying that equality is “fundamental to our national founding and moral order.”

Romney also refuted President Donald Trump’s statements from a year ago, when the president said there were “very fine people on both sides” at the rally.

“My view — then and now — is that people who knowingly march under the Nazi banner have disqualified themselves as ‘good people,’” Romney wrote.

In tweets Saturday morning, Trump said the events in Charlottesville led to “senseless death and division.” He said the nation needs to come together.

“I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence,” the president wrote. “Peace to ALL Americans!”

In his essay, Romney said his thoughts on equality are shaped by his parents and his religion. His mother taught the family to respect people who were different from themselves, and his father once refused to support a presidential nominee because of the candidate’s civil rights record.

Romney also acknowledged that some think the effort to create equality for some has created discrimination for others. He this would be "unfortunate and ill-advised," and added, "our aim must be equality of opportunity, not superiority of opportunity." But, he added, many minorities still face a “distinct disadvantage.”

“My understanding of the Black Lives Matter movement, for example, is that it is not intended to elevate minority lives above white lives,” Romney wrote. “It is intended to draw vivid attention to the too-frequent reality of deadly racial discrimination in law enforcement and in the courts.”

He also stressed the importance of coming together and mending the country’s divisions.

“The matter of race and racism is not tangential to the great issues of our day: it is one of them,” he said. “It is impossible for America to achieve and sustain high growth, economic superiority, and global leadership if our citizenry is divided, disengaged, and angry. But more than this, we must foster equality if we are to remain a great and good nation. And we ourselves must embrace the dignity of all God’s children if we are to merit His love.”

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