Winsome Earl Sears Faces Racism While Campaigning
Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears made bold statements on Monday, responding to an incident where a spectator at a James Madison football game yelled racist remarks directed at her while she was campaigning for governor as a Republican. The altercation took place during JMU’s decisive 63-27 win over Old Dominion in Harrisonburg.
This isn’t the first time Sears has faced such hostility. Recently, she was confronted with a provocative sign suggesting she use a segregated drinking fountain. In a statement to Fox News Digital, she said, “I thought Democrats were supposed to love everyone, but just to be clear, I’m Jamaican.” She continued, “But America is my home, and I have no place to go back to. I thank God every day that I get to call this country home.”
Sears, who is the first Black woman to hold a statewide office in Virginia, shared that she’s experienced names and insults that no one should have to endure. “Few people care because I have an ‘R’ next to my name,” she noted, emphasizing that she does not view herself as a victim. “Words won’t break me or stop me from campaigning,” she added.
During the game, a man donned in a JMU Dukes shirt and hat was recorded on video shouting at Sears to “go back to Haiti.” As music played, he appeared to realize he was being filmed, at which point he smiled, made a peace sign, and mouthed “Peace!” before resorting to shouting “traitor” again as the beat continued.
The video of the encounter quickly circulated online, prompting speculation about the man’s employment. A subsidiary of defense contractor Lockheed Martin was mentioned, leading to a swift response from the company, which stated they would investigate the matter. A spokesperson confirmed that they hold all employees to high standards and that any violations would be addressed. Later, they announced that the individual in question was no longer employed.
James Madison University Athletics issued a statement condemning the behavior observed in the video, asserting that it does not align with the university’s values of civility. The athletics department announced the individual has been suspended from future events.
The Virginia Republican Party acknowledged the video’s authenticity, with a party official present during the incident distributing it to media outlets. Efforts to contact the man involved yielded no results, as his social media accounts seemed to have been deleted shortly after the video gained traction.
In a related note, protests related to immigration policies also gained attention elsewhere, with demonstrators making extreme statements regarding law enforcement. As tensions rise, it seems civil discourse is increasingly challenged in various regions.
