'The problem is not with her...': Ohio AG defends Mathura Sridharan appointment, but racial backlash continues

Indian-origin American lawyer Mathura Sridharan's July 31 appointment as the 12th Solicitor General for Ohio continues to face backlash from netizens, days later.

The SG for a particular state is a specialised position tasked with supervising and conducting government litigation in the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS).

Sridharan was promoted to the role by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who claimed that she was “brilliant”, and that she had already won an argument at the SCOTUS last year.

He further justified her promotion, saying that she had previously worked under SGs Benjamin Flowers and T. Elliot Gaiser, both of whom had recommended her for the position.

Yet, what actually followed the announcement was a slew of racist comments targeted at her nationality, as well as the fact that she was wearing a 'bindi'—which led many people to assume that she was not Christian either.

Although a few people do defend her, an overwhelming number of netizens quoted various versions of the US Naturalization Act, attacking not only her, but also Yost.

An hour later, Yost hit back at netizens, stating that "if her name or her complexion bother you, the problem is not with her or her appointment”. 

He also clarified that Sridharan was a US citizen, was married to one, and was also the child of naturalised US citizens.

Despite Yost standing up for her, some continue to question Sridharan’s "Americanness", bringing in new arguments about her religion not being Christian, and her parents not having served in the Civil War.

World