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By Phillip Stucky
Republican candidate for Virginia governor Corey Stewart went the entire weekend without tweeting about the proposed removal of a confederate monument after Richard Spencer attended a Saturday protest.
Spencer came to the rally Saturday afternoon, which contained prominent white nationalists. The protest didn’t last long. The group clashed with counter-protesters, and police dispersed the torch-bearing crowd.
“What brings us together is that we are white, we are a people, we will not be replaced,” the “alt-right” organizer told members of the crowd.
Stewart maintained a strict silence on the topic over the weekend, opting instead to include tweets about Mother’s Day, his jobs and tax plan, and to share supporter’s comments.
Please Retweet and wish someone you know a Happy Mother's Day. pic.twitter.com/8NJHSTltr2
— Corey Stewart (@CoreyStewartVA) May 14, 2017
The candidate finally answered questions about his silence Sunday evening.
Only a jerk would talk politics on Mother's Day. Go be with your family. Talk tomorrow. https://t.co/8aErYwMmPi
— Corey Stewart (@CoreyStewartVA) May 14, 2017
Stewart attended several protests over the statue, and tweeted his support on multiple occasions, asserting the fact that the core issue was the Commonwealth’s heritage.
After they tear down Lee & Beauregard, they are coming for Washington & Jefferson. #HistoricalVandalism
— Corey Stewart (@CoreyStewartVA) April 25, 2017
No Robert E. Lee monument should come down. That man is a hero & an honorable man. It is shameful what they are doing with these monuments.
— Corey Stewart (@CoreyStewartVA) April 25, 2017
“We have been given another opportunity to push back against the out-of-control politically correct left that seeks to silence their political opposition,” Stewart said in a press release after Judge Richard Moore approved an injunction to keep the monument intact for at least six months.
Spencer is president of The National Policy Institute, a white identitarian organization.
Republican front-runner for governor Ed Gillespie quickly slammed the protest, calling the movement an “ugly display.”
The ugly display of divisive rhetoric and intimidation tactics in Charlottesville yesterday (1/2) https://t.co/MBHWbYYy8t
— Ed Gillespie (@EdWGillespie) May 14, 2017
does not reflect the thoughtfulness and tolerance I see in my fellow Virginians everywhere I go. (2/2)
— Ed Gillespie (@EdWGillespie) May 14, 2017
Officials with the Stewart campaign didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
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