UT students attacked by Bo French call his comments “disgusting” and too familiar - texastribune.org
University of Texas students are speaking out against racist social media posts made by Republican Railroad Commission candidate Bo French. French targeted South Asian students in a graduation photo, claiming they represented the 'displacement' of white Americans.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding race, political rhetoric, and the use of social media by candidates for public office.
Students at the University of Texas at Austin said they were dismayed — but unsurprised — by the racist attacks lobbed at them online after a Republican candidate for statewide office suggested white Americans were being “displaced.”
Bo French, the Republican running for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry, on Sunday posted racist comments on X that included an image of UT students of South Asian descent celebrating the victory.
“I heard UT graduation this year looked like this,” French wrote in a post featuring a photo of the students. “I didn’t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in