Mississippi State Senator Joel R. Carter (R-Gulfport) is facing criticism after he tweeted a racist meme about the Chinese balloon allegedly sent to spy on the U.S.
The tweet shows a picture of a balloon with the words “Weather Barroon, (Totary NOT For Spying)” written on it. The words “barroon” and “totary” are meant to mock an Asian accent.
Many people criticized the Republican State Senator on Twitter. Attorney, legal analysts and television host Katie S. Phang asked Carter if the “R.” in his name stood for racist.
The racist meme has also drawn criticism from activists.
“The post is undeniably racist, and it’s irresponsible and reckless for politicians to promote this type of racist rhetoric. This is a clear example of the long-standing connection between anti-China political rhetoric and anti-Asian racism. For too long, elected officials have scapegoated Chinese people for political gain — and this relentless scapegoating continues to fuel anti-Asian racism in America,” Stop AAPI Hate co-founder Cynthia Choi said in a statement Monday, according to Clarion Ledger.
The Clarion Ledger said that Carter did not respond to their requests for comment. He has not issued a statement on social media or deleted the tweet.
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