SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants and Charles Johnson, who is believed to own the largest stake in the team, released a pair of statements Friday afternoon after it was revealed that Johnson donated to a super PAC that made a racist radio ad in Arkansas.
The ad, paid for by a group called Black Americans for the President's Agenda, was made in support of congressman French Hill. It featured two women speaking, one of whom said, in part, "white Democrats will be lynching black folk again." According to ThinkProgress, the super PAC spent $50,000 on the ad. Johnson reportedly gave the group $1,000.
“I had absolutely no knowledge that this donation would be used in this manner and I, like the Giants organization, strongly condemn any form of racism and in no way condone the advertisement that was created by this entity,” Johnson said in his statement.
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SIGN UP HERE The Giants called the ad "disturbing and divisive."
“The Giants’ reputation as one of the most inclusive and socially engaged professional sports teams in the nation speaks for itself," the team's statement read. "We are unaware of Mr. Johnson’s political donations because they are entirely separate from his stake in the Giants ownership group. In no way do the Giants condone this disturbing and divisive political activity."
