Notice anyone missing?
A photo shared Thursday to the official House of Representatives GOP Twitter account sparked outrage online when users noticed a distinct similarity among nearly everyone in the frame: they’re all white. The photo, posted with the caption “UNIFIED,” shows dozens of House Republican members smiling behind Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who used a selfie-stick to capture the moment.
Twitter users soon called out the House GOP, citing the photo as proof of the party’s lack of racial diversity. Only two Republican members of the House are black: Mia Love of Utah and Will Hurd of Texas. Earlier this year, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) came under fire for a selfie he took with White House interns, who nearly all of whom were white.
At the time, the photo shared to Instagram spawned the hashtag#GOPSoWhite; Pence’s selfieThursday revived it, and criticism about lack of diversity in the party.
@HouseGOP And you wonder why people of color aren’t big supporters of your party.
— the rock professor (@Kaufmak) November 17, 2016
@housegop against non-white people?
— Sahil Lavingia (@shl) November 17, 2016
I count about 5 women and 350 middle aged white men. SO DIVERSE! SO UNIFIED! #GOPSoWhite https://t.co/84YAnIDrg5
— Kris (@ZetaBroKris) November 17, 2016
