COLUMBUS – The American Civil Liberties Union, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, the and other groups are are calling for state Sen. Steve Huffman to step down following his comments during a hearing for a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis.
The Republican from Tipp City, who is also a physician, caused controversy after he questioned over why the COVID-19 rates for black Ohioans were higher than other populations.
“Could it just be that African Americans – or the colored population — do not wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear masks? Or do not socially distance themselves?” Huffman asked Angela Dawson, executive director of the Ohio Commission of Minority Health, on the Senate floor Tuesday.
Dawson, who is black, responded, “That is not the opinion of leading medical experts in this country.”
Huffman, 55, says he regrets how his question was perceived, saying he asked it “in an unintentionally awkward way.”
In calling for Huffman’s resignation, the ACLU calls the question “an explicitly racist comment, which invoked deeply troubling sentiments and imagery, is reprehensible, and any Ohio lawmaker who holds such abhorrent views must be held accountable.”
“There is no reality where he can remain a member of the Ohio General Assembly and make decisions that affect the very communities he undermines and clearly holds such contemptible attitudes,” J. Bennett Guess, executive director of the ACLU of Ohio, said.
“Steve Huffman demonstrated that he is unfit for office and should resign immediately…Black people and minorities are suffering and dying at alarming rates from the coronavirus, and we need elected officials who are willing to get to the heart of the matter rather than spout heartless sentiments,” said foundation president and CEO Barbara Sykes.
At least one Republican spoke out in his defense.
“Steve has apologized for his choice of words as he phrased a particular question. People should respect his apology and move on – to not do so is to fan the flames of discord,” said Sen. Kristina Roegner of Hudson who also served with Huffman in the House of Representatives.
Huffman has also been fired from his job as emergency room physician at Upper Valley Medical Center.