N.M. GOP leader resigns in wake of denounced Charlottesville comments

Las Cruces (N.M.) Sun-News | Las Cruces Sun-News

Show Caption Hide Caption Roman Jimenez District 4 Doña Ana County Commission Republican candidate: Roman Jimenez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The Republican Party of Doña Ana County announced Tuesday that it has accepted the resignation of its chairman following controversial comments made on the party's Facebook page.

Roman Jimenez was widely condemned for stating on the party's official Facebook page that "violent, leftist protesters" were "getting exactly what they asked for" in the wake of racist rallies in Charlottesville, Va., that turned deadly.

The party announced on its Facebook page Tuesday that Victor Contreras will serve as interim chairman "until the county central committee convenes a meeting to elect a new chairperson."

Contreras offered a statement saying the party takes "a bold stance against all the extreme acts of violence, racism and hate that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"We believe there is no room for bigotry, racism or hate in our country."

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Heather Heyer, 32, of Charlottesville was killed Saturday after she was struck by a vehicle that mowed over a group of counterprotesters, following the Unite the Right rally that brought together neo-Nazis, Klu Klux Klan sympathizers and other white nationalist groups to protest the potential removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Nineteen people were hospitalized after the car attack, according to USA TODAY. Two Virginia state police officers — Lt. Jay Cullen, 48, and Trooper-Pilot Berke Bates, 40 — were killed in a helicopter crash while supervising the rally.

Contreras' message ran counter to the theme of Jimenez's post the day following the protests in Charlottesville:

“These violent, leftist protesters are the brainless robots that are created by evil Soros money. The white ones have been taught to hate their color, the women are taught to hate their men, blacks and minorities want to kill whites and police. Then they have the audacity to call conservatives racist. Their own racism, hate and violence has created the divide among those that refused to be bullied anymore. They’re getting exactly what they asked for. A segregated society of groups that they’ve created and even labeled themselves.”

Jimenez has not talked to the Sun-News. He did speak to Albuquerque TV station KOB-TV, before his resignation, saying: “The post was made in regards to other protests and violence that I was aware of. I had not been aware of the Charlottesville violence until after posts started coming in in response to what I put.”

Jimenez's comment on Facebook, which generated a lot of feedback on social media and from news media, was deleted hours after it was posted.

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Many prominent New Mexico Republicans denounced the statement, including U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, who is running for governor; Ryan Cangiolosi, the chairman of the New Mexico Republican Party; and Ceil Levatino, a Las Cruces city councilor. She welcomed Tuesday's announcement.

"I think it is appropriate," Levatino said in response to the change in county GOP leadership. "I'm terribly disappointed in what he said and how he said it. I'm glad that we've had some resolution and I look forward to finding a new chairman.

"I wish Roman the best," she said.

Pearce also addressed Jimenez's resignation, saying the former chairman's post was "unacceptable."

“Regardless of differences, Americans must treat each other with respect. His actions could not go unaddressed. He was right to step down," Pearce said.

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