WASHINGTON — Virginia’s governor on Wednesday condemned a series of crude and obscene statements that an appointee to the state Board of Education made on Twitter.
McAuliffe described the tweets from Charlottesville Councilor Wes Bellamy as “horrific” and said they are not the kind of comments he would expect from someone who serves on the Board of Education.
“It is untenable,” he said.
The Charlottesville Daily Progress reported the tweets, which Bellamy has admitted to posting, over the weekend. The 30-year-old high school teacher apologized in a Facebook post for the tweets and said he has matured since he posted the statements, which date from 2009 to 2014. He called his comments disrespectful and ignorant.
The Daily Progress reported that in some tweets Bellamy states that he hates black people who “act white” or “talk white,” and considers white women the “devil.” He also tweeted about rape and used slurs against homosexual individuals. He also spoke crassly about women teachers.
During a trip to D.C., McAuliffe said that he had spoken to Bellamy and is waiting to hear back from him. “He knows exactly where I stand on the issue.”
McAuliffe would not say whether he asked for Bellamy’s resignation. Both men are Democrats.
McAuliffe’s comments come a day after a state lawmaker called for Bellamy’s removal from the board.
“I think the governor could find somebody who has never expressed these views about violence and violating women,” Del. Todd Gilbert, a Republican from Shenandoah County who is part of the House’s leadership team, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “About calling homosexuals names. About using the N-word so freely. I just think it’s unbecoming of our Board of Education.”
Bellamy was appointed to the state board in March however the legislature has not yet confirmed the appointment, the Times-Dispatch reported.
WTOP’s Rick Massimo contributed to this report.
