‘White Boy Summer’ uproar deepens South Dakota's partisan divide

GOP leader points finger back at Democrats after social media post characterized as 'expression of racism and sexism'

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article did not accurately report the status of Manhart’s Instagram social media account. The Dakota Scout strives for fairness and accuracy in its reporting and regrets the error.

South Dakota Republicans are rejecting demands for an apology after a first-term lawmaker sparked backlash with an Independence Day social media post referencing “White Boy Summer.”

Rep. Logan Manhart made it clear Monday he would not apologize for an Instagram post that read, “It’s white boy summer and the boys are back in charge,” alongside the hashtag “#MAGA.” And despite outrage from Democratic lawmakers calling the post “a direct expression of racism and sexism, rooted in white supremacy and patriarchal power,” a censure is unlikely.

House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach has responded to the Democratic request for an apology from Manhart with an admonishment of House Minority Leader Erin Healy and House Democrats for language used in the caucus’s written appeal.

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