FRANKFORT, Ky. — A conservative lawmaker says she “strongly condemns” white supremacy after she took a picture with a woman making a hand sign linked to white supremacy. 

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Savannah Maddox (R) takes controversial photo

  • Maddox denies being racist

  • Maddox says she didn't know about the symbol

Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, took the picture with the woman over the weekend while attending the Kentucky Freedom Rally at the state capitol. The picture quickly caught the attention of Democrats and Republicans alike who called on Maddox to denounce racism. 

 In a statement to Spectrum News 1, Maddox said she was not aware of the meaning of the hand signal. 

“Although I was unaware that the person I was pictured with at the Freedom Rally was making any type of hand gesture, I strongly condemn ALL emblems of white supremacy or any symbol of cultural, ethnic, or racial marginalization without exception. I attended and participated in this rally because I believe this administration has dangerously overstepped its authority in issuing orders that are inconsistent, intrusive, and potentially unconstitutional.”

The photo drew the attention of Former House Speaker Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, who called the photo “sickening” and reprehensible” and called on Maddox, the Kentucky House GOP and the Republican Party of Kentucky to denounce the photo. 

 

 

Maddox responded to Hoover on Twitter before taking the photo down and then taking aim at Hoover himself. 

The Kentucky Democratic Party says this is just part of a pattern of RPK accepting racism within the party. 

"After at least two years of issues, it’s time for all Kentucky Republican elected officials to publicly condemn this in their party once and for all,” Marisa McNee, spokesperson for the KDP said in a release. 

House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, also condemned racism but did not mention the picture specifically. 

"The House Majority Caucus stands unequivocally against the abomination that is racism, bigotry, and discrimination. All people are created equal, not only in the eyes of our Creator, but also in the laws of this state and nation," he said in a statement. "We expect all of our members to uphold this ideal. There is no room for racism in 21st Century Kentucky. If we are to accomplish our goal of moving this state forward, we must be too busy to hate and too committed to working towards our common good.”

Spectrum News 1 reached out to RPK for comment but did not hear immediately back.