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Ex-Georgia Sheriff Resigns From State Position After Resurfaced Photo Shows Him In Ku Klux Klan Outfit
A former Georgia Sheriff has resigned from his high-level state position after photos of him in Ku Klux Klan robes surfaced for the second time.
Roger Garrsion, who was appointed to Georgia's Judicial Qualifications Commission watchdog organization just over 10 days ago, resigned last week amid the ensuing controversy.
The photo, which first surfaced in 2012, shows Garrison and a friend in full KKK regalia Garrison claimed at the time was just a Halloween costume.
\u201cEverybody knows everything about my life. I just ask that they look at my honor and my integrity and the things we\u2019ve done for this Sheriff\u2019s Office.\u201d\n\nRoger Garrison, former Cherokee County sheriff resigns from State Watchdog Agency after KKK costume photo surfaces. @CBS46pic.twitter.com/CRTBnvIvZh— shon gables cbs46 (@shon gables cbs46) 1630097233
When the photo was first uncovered in 2012 during Garrison's reelection campaign, he claimed that the KKK outfit was meant to be a reference to a scene in the 1974 Mel Brooks satirical film Blazing Saddles, and that he has no affiliation to the Ku Klux Klan.
Garrison, who was in his 20s at the time the photo was taken, chalked it up to a youthful mistake:
"I don't deny it wasn't stupid, looking back now. But there again I say, 'What 21- or 22-year-old in this world hasn't made some stupid mistakes?'"
"I would just ask that they look at my honor and my integrity and the things we've done for this Sheriff's Office."
Garrison also said in 2012 that the photo was being publicized for purely political reasons, as he was being challenged for the Republican Party nomination for Sheriff that year. He ended up winning the primary by a wide margin anyway and ran unopposed in the general election.
Things have gone very differently this time, however. When asked about the controversy by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week, Ralston simply chose not to answer the question. Rather, via spokesperson Kaleb McMichen, Ralston simply confirmed Garrison had already resigned and that he would be replaced "as soon as [is] practical."
On Twitter, many people were angered by the incident, and virtually no one was convinced by Garrison's Halloween-costume explanation.
Look, we've all at some point in our lives forgotten to plan for Halloween and had to throw on a work uniform in a pinch.— John Brooks - The Hard to Believe Podcast (@John Brooks - The Hard to Believe Podcast) 1630236652
That, my friends, is no costume.— Alt Evil (@Alt Evil) 1630145295
Call his bluff. Investigate all arrests and convictions of POC during his years as sheriff.— Steve Kish (@Steve Kish) 1630239998
Only proves how he really feelshttps://twitter.com/HuffPost/status/1431940339598823426\u00a0\u2026— The Real PoohBear (@The Real PoohBear) 1630296975
A fish rots from the head down. I bet if you look into that department, he surrounded himself with likeminded good ol boys.— Brett Smith (@Brett Smith) 1630306278
No custome! That was a part of his outfits. It's probably in the cleaners now. Waiting for him to pick it up!— Mona (@Mona) 1630149842
These weren't costumes, as Garrison claims. There isn't a KKKollection at Party City or Walmart.https://twitter.com/shongables/status/1431357655277350916\u00a0\u2026— WJ Smith - grandson of FL, NC, WV & MA (@WJ Smith - grandson of FL, NC, WV & MA) 1630286952
BUSTED!!!!!https://twitter.com/shongables/status/1431357655277350916\u00a0\u2026— Cliff W (@Cliff W) 1630201818
Large majority of Cherokee County voted for Trump in 2020 so no surprise here.https://twitter.com/shongables/status/1431357655277350916\u00a0\u2026— Blue Georgia (@Blue Georgia) 1630097533
Garrison was the sheriff of Cherokee Country for 20 years and retired in 2016.