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NC Republican tries to erase his history of antisemitic vitriol

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. (Anthony Crider/Flickr)
Lisa Sorg, NC Newsline
October 12, 2023
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who on social media has peddled antisemitic conspiracy theories, denied the Holocaust (“Hitler disarming MILLIONS OF Jews and then marching them off to concentration camps is a bunch of hogwash”), claimed a character in the “Black Panther” movie was “created by an agnostic Jew,” and then in the same Facebook post used a Yiddish pejorative for Black people “Schvartze,” and an antisemitic term for Israeli currency “shekels” — attempted to atone Thursday.

In what seemed almost to amount to a form of cosplay, Robinson, a leading Republican candidate for governor, performed his first deed today as “Acting Governor,” while the real governor, Roy Cooper, is on an economic trip to Japan.

“This is Solidarity with Israel Week. We are here to condemn the extremist actions” Robinson said at the press conference, referring to Hamas and its allies.

Last weekend the militant group breached the Gaza-Israel border and savaged several cities, kidnaping more than a hundred civilians and indiscriminately killing 1,200 people. In a counteroffensive, Israel has bombed the Gaza Strip, killing 1,417 Palestinians and wounding 6,268, according to The New York Times, and essentially declared war on Hamas.

Robinson then declared Friday at sunset through Saturday at sunset — the traditional day of rest, or Shabbat, for Jewish people — “a day of prayer.”

Robinson insisted that despite his many documented, vehement and hateful remarks against Jewish people, he’s actually not antisemitic.

“There was never any antisemitism intended in those words,” Robinson said. “It was never within me. I’ve never had anything against the Jewish people.

“I apologize for the wording,” of the Facebook posts,” Robinson went on. “We’ve dealt with the Facebook posts and moved past them.”

Robinson denied that the press conference — whose purpose was shrouded in mystery until it happened — was merely an opportunity to revise history and mend his reputation.

“This is not an opportunity to clear the air. Absolutely not,” he said.

Nor was the press conference about upstaging the real governor. “It’s about the people of North Carolina coming together, to make sure the world knows we stand with Israel.”

If Robinson wins the 2024 Republican primary, he will likely face Democratic frontrunner Josh Stein, who is Jewish.

NC Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. NC Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Rob Schofield for questions: info@ncnewsline.com. Follow NC Newsline on Facebook and Twitter.

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