Wisconsin NAACP condemns Senator Ron Johnson for behavior that disqualifies him to hold a public office

On March 27, Wendell J. Harris, President of the NAACP Wisconsin State Conference released a scathing statement about the state’s Republican senator.

Founded in 1909 as a response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest civil rights organization in the nation.

“Had the tables been turned and President Donald Trump won the election and those were thousands of Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters I would have been concerned,” Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson stated about the January 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.

Five people died in the riot including one police officer and dozens were injured. Prosecutors have charged more than 400 people with crimes and nearly that many had been arrested. Forty people have been arrested for assault on law enforcement officers – this is Domestic Terrorism in its most hateful form.

Ron Johnson has shown an unprecedented ability to make statements that are not based in fact, History, or common sense. Consider other statements of Johnson: “The Affordable Care Act is the single greatest assault on freedom in my lifetime.” “Obamacare is more threatening than Communism.” “We are not acting to thwart the democratic process; we are acting to protect it.”

Ron Johnson has shown a lack of respect for Constitutional Principles, our democratic process, and the rule of law: 1) He joined nearly a dozen other Republican senators pledging to reject the presidential election results when Congress met to count Electoral College votes and certify Joe Biden as President-Elect. 2) In a joint letter by the senators, they claimed the election contained “unprecedented allegations” of voter fraud and violations of law, arguing “the allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes.” 3) He has called for the creation of a commission with full investigatory and fact-finding authority to conduct an emergency audit of the 2020 election returns. State and Federal judges – some appointed by Trump – dismissed more than 50 lawsuits brought by Trump or his allies alleging election fraud and other irregularities.

A Sunday interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press with host Chuck Todd,” turned into a shouting match multiple times, with both at one point telling the other to “look in the mirror” and acknowledge their roles in perpetuating conspiracy theories about voter fraud in the 2020 election, and the declining trust in the mainstream media, respectively.

There is growing outcry for Ron Johnson to resign: the “Milwaukee Journal Sentinel” Editorial Board called on Senator Ron Johnson to either resign or be expelled from office for his role in spreading disinformation about the presidential election; A local protest included a “Caravan Against Fascism” calling on his resignation; African Americans know the hideous elements of racism and discrimination in this Country.

The Wisconsin NAACP believes Ron Johnson’s behaviors and attitudes disqualify him to hold any public office: we do not trust him; we do not forgive; and we believe he should immediately leave office or be removed from office. If not, the Wisconsin NAACP pledges to work to prevent his re-election in 2022.”