Assembly adopts unanimous resolution condemning racist social media post
February 09, 2026 | California State Assembly, House, Legislative, California
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The California State Assembly unanimously adopted House Resolution 84 on Feb. 10, 2026, denouncing a social media post that used dehumanizing imagery targeting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Assemblymember Bridal, who introduced HR 84, said the post "depicted President Barack Obama and his wife, First Lady, Michelle Obama, as dancing primates" and urged members to join as co-authors and to vote to condemn the imagery. Speakers from the Legislative Black Caucus, Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, Latino Caucus, Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus and others described the post as racist, dangerous and part of a pattern of dehumanizing rhetoric.
Assemblymember Ward, chair of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, said the resolution "responds to President Trump's recent circulation of a blatantly racist imagery targeting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama." Several members recounted personal reactions and linked the imagery to wider harms, warning that such rhetoric normalizes hate and can have real-world consequences.
After a period of debate and numerous floor statements in support, the clerk recorded the roll call on co-authors and then the final vote on the resolution as Aye 61, No 0. The resolution was adopted and the clerk announced the resolution is adopted.
The resolution is symbolic — a floor declaration of condemnation — and does not impose penalties; the Assembly used the moment to register a unanimous institutional rebuke and to urge leaders at all levels of government to reject racism and dehumanizing rhetoric.
Assemblymember Bridal, who introduced HR 84, said the post "depicted President Barack Obama and his wife, First Lady, Michelle Obama, as dancing primates" and urged members to join as co-authors and to vote to condemn the imagery. Speakers from the Legislative Black Caucus, Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, Latino Caucus, Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus and others described the post as racist, dangerous and part of a pattern of dehumanizing rhetoric.
Assemblymember Ward, chair of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, said the resolution "responds to President Trump's recent circulation of a blatantly racist imagery targeting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama." Several members recounted personal reactions and linked the imagery to wider harms, warning that such rhetoric normalizes hate and can have real-world consequences.
After a period of debate and numerous floor statements in support, the clerk recorded the roll call on co-authors and then the final vote on the resolution as Aye 61, No 0. The resolution was adopted and the clerk announced the resolution is adopted.
The resolution is symbolic — a floor declaration of condemnation — and does not impose penalties; the Assembly used the moment to register a unanimous institutional rebuke and to urge leaders at all levels of government to reject racism and dehumanizing rhetoric.
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