The Democratic Party of Virginia is denying any involvement in what appears to be a hoax meant to draw a connection between Republican Glenn Youngkin’s campaign for governor and the white nationalist march in Charlottesville in 2017.
On Friday, a number of tiki-torch wielding, sunglasses-clad individuals showed up at a Youngkin event, where they posed for pictures in front of the candidate’s campaign bus, dressed up like the 2017 marchers.
Jen Goodman, a communications staffer for the campaign of Youngkin’s opponent, Terry McAuliffe, and a number of other Democrats used the group — which was neither invited nor lauded by Youngkin — to suggest that Youngkin’s campaign had dark racial undertones. Goodman called the incident “disgusting and disqualifying.”
The composition and behavior of the white nationalist lookalikes — one appeared to be of African-American descent — however, suggested that it may have been a McAuliffe campaign, or progressive activist-led hoax. Some social media users speculated on their identities, noting that the torch-holders looked similar to certain members of the Virginia Democratic Party.
In response, the party released the following statement:
The Democratic Party of Virginia, along with its coordinated partners and its affiliates, did not have any role today in the events that happened outside of the Youngkin campaign bus stop today. What happened in Charlottesville four years ago was a tragedy and one of the darkest moments in our state’s recent memories and is an even not to be taken lightly. For anyone to accuse our staff to have a role in this event is shameful and wrong.
The language of the statement is notable not only for its denial, but for its careful reference only to “coordinated partners” and “affiliates.”
Over the last 24 hours, Youngkin has taken leads in both the RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight polling averages.
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