Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) is explaining why he felt compelled to join the Black Lives Matter movement while marching with protesters in Washington, D.C.
On Sunday, Romney took to Twitter with a photo that captured his father, Earl Romney, marching during the late 1960s Civil Rights Movement in Detroit, Michigan.
He tweeted, “This is my father, George Romney, participating in a Civil Rights march in the Detroit suburbs during the late 1960s—“Force alone will not eliminate riots,” he said. “We must eliminate the problems from which they stem.”
This is my father, George Romney, participating in a Civil Rights march in the Detroit suburbs during the late 1960s—“Force alone will not eliminate riots,” he said. “We must eliminate the problems from which they stem.” pic.twitter.com/SzrcAyfPD8
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) June 6, 2020
Hours later, Romney joined a group of approximately 1,000 protesters in Washington, D.C. as they headed toward the White House. During the march, a reporter asked the Utah senator why he joined the moment.
With a mask on, Romney responded by saying, “We need to end violence and brutality, and to make sure that people understand that black lives matter.”
See Romney’s remarks below:
https://twitter.com/hannah_natanson/status/1269742337934217219?
.@SenatorRomney marching in front of the WH: “We need a voice against racism, we need many voices against racism and against brutality. And we need to stand up and say black lives matter.” (w/ @alivitali) pic.twitter.com/rGrXvM6wty
— haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) June 7, 2020
Shortly after speaking about the march, he also shared photos via Twitter.
Black Lives Matter. pic.twitter.com/JpXUFlxH2J
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) June 7, 2020
Romney hitting the pavement with protesters follows multiple statements he has made about the death of George Floyd, the civil unrest in America, and the need for change and reform. The Republican senator has been vocal about racial injustice.
“No Americans should fear enmity and harm from those sworn to protect us. The death of George Floyd must not be in vain: Our shock and outrage must grow into collective determination to extinguish forever such racist abuse,” Romney tweeted.
No Americans should fear enmity and harm from those sworn to protect us. The death of George Floyd must not be in vain: Our shock and outrage must grow into collective determination to extinguish forever such racist abuse.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) May 28, 2020
The former Republican presidential nominee is also among the group of Republicans who are expressing concern about President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, as previously reported on IJR.
Like Romney, Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) along with Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) has also spoken out about the president’s message, urging him to consider changing his tone while embracing the idea of a call for unity.