Nearly three dozen black alumni of Liberty University are denouncing school President Jerry Falwell Jr., suggesting he step down after he mocked Virginia’s mask-wearing requirement by invoking the blackface scandal that engulfed the state’s governor last year.
The letter was shared with The Associated Press.
I was adamantly opposed to the mandate from @GovernorVA requiring citizens to wear face masks until I decided to design my own. If I am ordered to wear a mask, I will reluctantly comply, but only if this picture of Governor Blackface himself is on it!#VEXIT#EndLockdownNow pic.twitter.com/twu7r4rWhd
— Jerry Falwell (@JerryFalwellJr) May 27, 2020
In it, faith leaders and former student-athletes told Falwell that his past comments have repeatedly violated and misrepresented Christian principles.
They said they would stop urging students to attend Liberty, stop donating to the university, and would urge fellow people of faith to avoid speaking at the school unless Falwell changes his behavior or steps aside.
Falwell addressed the issue in a tweet.
"People have asked why I won’t apologize for reminding people of the @vagovernor racist past in a recent tweet. It’s because that same Gov just ended tuition assistance grants for the 27% of @LibertyU online students who are African-American! Put your$ where your mouth is Gov. Sad," he tweeted.
People have asked why I won’t apologize for reminding people of the @vagovernor racist past in a recent tweet. It’s because that same Gov just ended tuition assistance grants for the 27% of @LibertyU online students who are African-American! Put your$ where your mouth is Gov. Sad
— Jerry Falwell (@JerryFalwellJr) June 1, 2020
