Conservative firebrand Vernon Jones revealed that he received at least three death threats after saying that gay rights are a separate issue from civil rights.
After national media covered Jones’ statements about LGBT people and black people, Jones, who is black, received two death threats containing racial epithets and a physical piece of mail that simply read “N****** rights don’t matter”.
Two of the death threats were received via Jones’ website, and contained specific language indicating they were sent by individuals upset by Jones’ statements about civil rights.
“You know nothing about the lgbtq community,” wrote the person behind one death threat. “N***** acting like a white on the outside,” the person wrote, before indicating that Jones should by lynched on a “tree”.
Another person wrote, “N***** should be hanging from a tree” before adding that Jones knows “nothing about the lgbtq”. The person added, “swing from a tree with a rope n*****” again referencing lynching.
Jones made the remarks about civil rights and gay rights during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s podcast earlier this month.
“Civil rights for blacks and gay rights for gays are two different things,” Jones said on the podcast, drawing the ire of LGBT groups across the country.
“I don’t know what you are unless you tell me what you are, if you’re gay,” Jones explained, “But when I walk in that room, you can tell that I’m black. I’m black from cradle to grave, let’s not get that confused.”
Valiant News spoke with a person familiar with the Vernon Jones campaign for U.S. House who said Jones has filed a police report.
Some compared the law enforcement response to death threats against Jones – which were made anonymously, except for the letter with a return address in Chicago, Illinois – to previous alleged hate crimes. Twitter users compared the law enforcement response to that of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace’s 2020 claim that he found a noose in his garage.
The FBI immediately responded to the claim, sending agents to investigate. A law enforcement investigation ultimately revealed that the rope was a pulley used to operate the garage door and not a noose meant to intimidate the driver.
“I think it may be time for the @FBI and @GBI_GA to begin investigating the racist messages, and racist death threats being sent” to Jones, wrote former NYPD commissioner Bernie Kerik on Twitter.
I think it may be time for the @FBI and @GBI_GA to begin investigating the racist messages, and racist death threats being sent to @VernonForGA.
Here’s where they can start:@MikeCollinsGA https://t.co/HWM32W7ZED https://t.co/Ksao5ilSPJ pic.twitter.com/gzved9kGu2
— Bernard B. Kerik (@BernardKerik) April 21, 2022
Kerik and a person familiar with Jones’ campaign suggested flyers distributed by the Free American PAC, which is based in Virginia, may have influenced the death threats. The flyers contain a digitally manipulated image showing Jones standing next to rapper Rick Ross while a white woman cries.
The PAC supports Jones’ primary opponent, Mike Collins, who received $920,000 in PPP loans before loaning his campaign $465,000. Collins has struggled to remain competitive since Jones entered the race and was immediately endorsed by 45th President Donald Trump.
Noting this, Kerik called for the Georgia Republican Party to investigate.
Greg/@ajc you’re as much a racist as @MikeCollinsGA who is allowing theses ads to be sent out!
Also, why is Rick Ross in this racist ad with the photoshopped white women?@stevesadow @DavidShafer what’s the @GaRepublicans doing about the racist threats against @VernonForGA ? https://t.co/gPy4GbGO3a
— Bernard B. Kerik (@BernardKerik) April 20, 2022
Despite the threats, Jones has refused to walk back his stance.
“This is how the Radical Left treats a black man who thinks for himself,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “They threaten to LYNCH me.” Jones then reiterated his stance that “Being gay will NEVER be the same as being black” and assured his supporters that he “will NOT back down.”
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only one. I’ll be referring each of these vile and hateful messages to law enforcement to allow them to conduct a full and through investigation.
There’s not a threat in the world that will silence me or this campaign. pic.twitter.com/MMsdiyf0jo
— Vernon Jones For Congress (@VernonForGA) April 18, 2022
Jones is running for the U.S. House in Georgia’s 10th district. Polls show him leading the field of Republicans, likely buoyed by Trump’s endorsement.
