Chairman of the Lawrence County Republican Party in Alabama, Shanon Terry, issued an apology after it appeared that the group shared imagery of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).
The group received backlash after posting a photo of a GOP elephant with what appeared to be hooded figures between its legs.
The post congratulated Terry on becoming the new chairman.
Alabama House minority leader Anthony Daniels tweeted in response, “Shame on the Lawrence County Republican Party for this disgusting image.”
Shame on the Lawrence County Republican Party for this disgusting image. @TheDaleJackson pic.twitter.com/sf5j4QvneY
— Anthony Daniels (@AnthonyDaniels) August 17, 2022
The Hill noted that the post was removed later that night and reposted with another image.
Terry took to the group’s Facebook page to issue an apology for the post.
“I would like to offer a deep and sincere apology for a picture that temporarily appeared on this page last night,” he said.
Terry continued, “A Google search picture of a GOP elephant was used and later found to have hidden images that do not represent the views or beliefs of the Lawrence County Republican Party. The picture was then immediately replaced. As chairman I take full responsibility for the error.”
ALABAMA: Lawrence County GOP chair Shanon Terry is facing calls to resign from the school board (including from the NAACP) after taking “full responsibility” for the “error” of posting KKK imagery on the party’s official page. 😳 pic.twitter.com/1aQEhgWA6I
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) August 18, 2022
Additionally, Terry released a statement to Nexstar’s WHNT on whether he would resign from the county’s school board.
“I will not be resigning from my elected office on the Lawrence County School Board. The voters of District Four elected me to represent them and I am proud of the accomplishments of this administration over the past six years,” Terry said.
He explained, “I look forward to continuing to strive to give every student in Lawrence County the best opportunity to be successful.”
Terry acknowledged “that these actions to address this regretful error may not satisfy everyone, but I believe they demonstrate the sincerity of my feelings on this matter.”
The image shared by the group originally appeared in the September/October 2020 issue of Mother Jones titled, “The Republican Party Is Racist and Soulless. Just Ask This Veteran GOP Strategist.”