OPINION — As a candidate for state representative in Legislative District 7, I feel an obligation to say something about the racist attacks directed at Rep. Walt Blackman. They have greatly disturbed me.
Because we are on the same ballot, I guess that Walt Blackman is my political opponent. I have many disagreements with him, and I expect to continue having them. But none of those disagreements makes racist attacks against him acceptable.
Rep. Blackman recently called on elected officials and community leaders across the political spectrum to condemn social media posts depicting Black Americans as apes and using other degrading racial stereotypes. He also made an important distinction: defending the First Amendment does not require us to remain silent about hateful ideas. I agree.
