A Republican running for governor of Florida is in hot water online after calling for a Black man to be “lynched” in a tense exchange that has gone viral on social media. This is the latest controversy for the GOP candidate, who seems to revel in making offensive and provocative statements.
Republican candidate in Florida calls for Black man to be ‘lynched’
James Fishback, one of several Republicans running for governor of Florida, got into a tense exchange with a Black voter who confronted the Republican on allegations of sexual misconduct. In a video posted on X, a Black man confronts Fishback in a crowd, asking the candidate, “So, Mr. Fishback, what’s with you smashing a 16 or 17-year-old? Can you answer about what’s going on with that?”
The question is a reference to accusations made by Keniah Fort, who worked for Fishback’s nonprofit organization, Incubate Debate. Fort accuses Fishback of dating her when she was 17, and he was 27, further alleging that he stalked her after the relationship ended. Fishback has denied the allegations. The video shows an increasingly tense back and forth between Fishback and the Black voter, who goes into graphic detail, speculating about Fishback engaging in various positions with the then-teenager. An increasingly frustrated Fishback chastises the man: “I don’t want you ever speaking about women in our state like that ever again,” he tells the voter while defending himself. “Why haven’t I been arrested? Why haven’t I been arrested? You should be lynched!” exclaims Fishback before the video abruptly ends.
Fishback builds brand on racist trolling
The now-viral clip is the latest instance of public outrage surrounding Fishback, who has built a campaign based on a young fan base that he seemingly attracts with his outlandish and offensive statements. Writing about Fishback for The New York Times, columnists Michelle Goldberg and Daniel J. Wakin discuss how he established his political brand by founding “anti-woke” organizations such as a high school debate league and an exchange-traded fund; he launched the latter at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago. Per the columnists, Fishback “embraces a kind of trollish racism and antisemitism” that appeals to some young conservatives, a demographic that has been demonstrated to delve into racist and offensive ideas and language in recent years. Fishback, for example, has defended the University of Florida College Republicans even though the group was disbanded after a picture was posted online showing an apparent member making a Nazi salute.
Fishback trails Black Republican congressman in race for governor of Florida
Despite his popularity with the so-called “groyper” community of young white supremacists, which Fishback claims he is not, he is currently trailing in the Republican race to replace retiring anti-“woke” Gov. Ron DeSantis. Leading that race is Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, one of a handful of Black Republicans in Congress and an ally of Trump. Donalds currently enjoys a huge lead over Fishback and other Republican candidates in polls of likely voters. Fishback has repeatedly gone after Donalds with racist attacks, referring to him as “By’rone” and warning that Donalds would “turn Florida into a Section 8 ghetto.” These comments are in addition to other outrageous statements made by Fishback, who posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Don Lemon is lucky he’s not getting hanged in the public square for ransacking a church,” after the journalist covered a controversial anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church.
Fishback’s brand of racist and offensive politics has so far failed to make a large dent in the GOP race for governor of Florida. His comments have, however, gained him significant attention and appealed to a brand of bigoted young conservative politics that has been vocal in recent years. Now, Fishback, while again denying concerning and disturbing allegations that were once made against him, has escalated his political racism by calling for a Black man to be lynched.
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