A set of photographs shared on Twitter earlier this week seem to indicate Mary Ann Mendoza, a Republican candidate for the Arizona Home of Representatives, in blackface and brownface, The Copper Courier reported Friday.
Two photographs allegedly present Mendoza, who’s working for a seat in Arizona’s ninth Legislative District, sporting blackface make-up together with an apron that reads “Aunt Jemima.”
The Aunt Jemima identify and picture, previously utilized by Quaker Oats for its pancake combine and syrup model, will be traced again to racial stereotypes from the nineteenth century.
One other picture seems to indicate the GOP candidate sporting brownface for a dressing up of historic Native American determine Pocahontas.
It’s unclear who took the photographs, once they had been taken or how Twitter person @Tylerhereforfun — who initially shared them in a tweet Monday — obtained them.
The Copper Courier, which first reported on the photographs, wrote that Mendoza had not responded to an inquiry from the native information outlet.
JHB has reached out to Mendoza for remark, in addition to to a different Republican candidate within the district, Kathy Pearce.
Lorena Austin and Seth Blattman, their Democratic opponents for 2 seats within the Arizona Home, wrote in a joint assertion that the photographs “are a show of violent racism.”
“These photographs are disgusting, hate-filled, and sadly a part of a sample for Mary Ann Mendoza,” the assertion learn, per The Copper Courier.
“This development makes Ms. Mendoza unfit to change into a legislator and signify the individuals of LD 9. If these photographs are what they look like, Ms. Mendoza ought to withdraw her candidacy.”
Mendoza — who initially made headlines in 2014 after her son, a police officer, died in a automobile crash involving a drunk driver who was an immigrant — isn’t any stranger to controversy.
In 2020, the Republican Nationwide Conference eliminated her from its lineup simply hours after she pushed an antisemitic conspiracy principle on Twitter. She later apologized for the tweet.
“My apologies for not taking note of the intent of the entire message,” wrote Mendoza, who has appeared alongside former President Donald Trump at a number of occasions through the years. “That doesn’t replicate my emotions or private ideas in any respect.”