Racism is wrong. Hate groups are dangerous. These are not new discoveries. As a nation we must continue to denounce both. Our communities are better off without racism and hate.

A photo from Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s medical school yearbook, showing one individual in a KKK robe and another dressed as black face are shocking. The yearbook, from 1984, comes well after the height of the civil rights movement and destruction of Jim Crow ordinances. A number of professors on this campus were in school in 1984. Our school and our student body would not tolerate such photos from one of them.

Governor Northam’s yearbook photos are unacceptable. He needs to resign.

Northam denies that he is either of the men in the picture. This seems unlikely although not impossible. Using a photo of other people on a yearbook page dedicated to yourself does not make sense.

Allowing Governor Northam to finish his term could set dangerous precedent. Northam might have a history of serving the African American community well, but it does not matter. Now’s the time to draw a line in the sand. Americans should not tolerate racism from their leaders. There’s no way to allow Northam to finish his term without in some sense condoning his behavior. Instead, we must be unequivocal in our condemnation.

We are sure to face this predicament again. America’s youth are developing social media presences earlier and earlier. One day America might be able to see presidential candidates Instagram pictures from graduate school. How will we respond then? Oh well, it was only 2019 when that picture was taken, no big deal. Please no.

We’ve seen similar situations with young professional athletes years old Tweets dug up, exposing their less mature younger self.

Social media is a double edged sword in this regard. No one is perfect and I hope we never live in a time where mistakes of our youth destroy the futures of ethical, capable and well intentioned people. Northam’s situation does not apply to my concern. The yearbook calls into question his touch with foundational morals.

There might be more some discussion to be had if these photos were from his teenage years or earlier. In graduate school, several years into his twenties, he should have known better though. Certainly, he was past any age that could credit the mistake to his youth. Maybe I’m biased because both my own parents were in graduate school in 1984, but prejudice was pretty clear cut as wrong by that time.

Governor Northam cannot finish his term. Racism is unacceptable. We cannot condone a leader’s involvement with hate. If not now, then when?

In the last few years we’ve seen discouraging increases in hate. Governor Northam may no longer think like the man he was in the picture, but his behavior serves a far greater purpose given his office, and he must honor that. Both his constituents and all Americans should know that such behavior is not just uncouth, but likely to be disqualifying from opportunity.

Virginia, like any state, has much bigger problems than this. Governor Northam should step aside and allow his lieutenant to serve the people of Virginia absent the distractions this situation is guaranteed to continue to present.

It has been nearly one-hundred and fifty years since the end of slavery. Over fifty years since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And, just over two years since our Commander-in-Chief was an African American. There’s no reason to give Governor Northam a pass. Our nation has made progress in combatting prejudice. Let’s prove it.