Source: Editorial Board
North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson has made the news repeatedly this year for his offensive comments. Robinson spews so much hate, constantly, that it can be hard to keep track of just how many times he’s embarrassed the state.
In no particular order, here are a few things Robinson has said this year that reflects horribly on our state. Content warning– many of these comments are offensive and upsetting for many to read.
- In August this year, Robinson was the keynote speaker at the “Faith, Family, Freedom” rally held in Transylvania county. During his speech, WLOS reported that Robinson said:
“That’s not your fault that police beat you up, that police shouldn’t have shot you 15 times even though you did pull out a gun and point it at that police officer… The only thing I got to say about that is, you better be glad it wasn’t me. I would have shot you 30 times. I would have emptied every magazine I had on him.”
- During a speech in May, Robinson implied half of his constituents are not capable of leadership; according to WRAL, during his speech Robinson said:
“We are called to be led by men,” he said, which brought applause and some shouts of agreement. “God sent women out … when they had to do their thing, but when it was time to face down Goliath, [He] sent David. Not Davita, David.”
- The Charlotte Observer reported that less than 24 hours after the racist mass shooting in Buffalo, NY, Robinson was on stage at a church in Nash County bragging about his AR-15s and implying his intent to use them if “the government gets too big for its britches”
“I’ll tell anybody, I got them AR-15s at home and I like to go target shooting and all that. That’s not what they’re there for,” Robinson said. “I’m not ashamed to say it, I’m probably not supposed to say it, but I’m gonna say it anyway — I got them AR-15s in case the government gets too big for its britches,” he continued. “‘Cause I’m gonna fill the backside of them britches with some lead.”
- WRAL reported that in Mark Robinson’s memoir, Robinson said he’d work to keep history and science out of the elementary grade curriculum:
“In those grades, we don’t need to be teaching social studies,” he [Robinson] writes. “We don’t need to be teaching science. We surely don’t need to be talking about equity and social justice.”
- The Pulse reported that Robinson continued his anti-trans rhetoric at a recent NC Renewal Project event:
“We have the leader of our Health and Human Services who is a man who dresses up like a woman [Robinson appeared to be referring to Admiral Rachel Levine, the highest ranking transgender person in the federal government]… He is literally the living reality embodiment of Klinger from ‘M*A*S*H… What was once comedy on television is a reality in the highest ranks of our government,” Robinson said.
- Robinson didn’t say much in a recent Facebook post on his personal account, but the meme he made doubting and mocking the attack on Paul Pelosi certainly makes the list. Read about Robinson’s post from the Charlotte Observer.
In 2022, Robinson has shown that there is no limit to his hateful commentary, repeatedly doubling down on his statements. Robinson has said that he plans to run for governor in 2024 and voters will have the opportunity to hold him accountable for his rhetoric.
