Michigan Republicans are gearing up to launch a petition drive. Secure MI Vote, to enact major changes to voting by circumventing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's veto. PEG has previously reported on many of the proposed changes that have already been introduced by GOP state legislators.

Voters Not Politicians Ballot Committee (VNP) today submitted objections to the Michigan Department of State about the disingenuous, false and misleading Petition Summary submitted by the “Secure MI Vote” group. To ensure that voters have accurate information about what the anti-voter campaign will be asking voters to sign, VNP has offered alternate language for consideration by the Board of Elections.

MCL 168.482b(1)(b), states that petition summaries are required to be a “true and impartial statement of the purpose" of the proposed amendment… in language that does not create prejudice for or against the proposed amendment…”. The Petition Summary raises several red flags. Read the article on Alternative to false, misleading Secure MI Vote petition summary for the specifics.

The Center for the Education of Women (CEW) will hold their annual fall advocacy symposium themed Accessing & Navigating Systems on September 28, 2021. This zoom event is free and open to all “activists, advocates, and allies,” as they put it. This “Advocacy Symposium” will focus on lessening social inequality and promoting social justice at the University of Michigan and the surrounding community. Speakers will include Christina R. Cutlip, PhD, Senior Managing Director, Head of Client Engagement and National Advocacy at TIAA; Dessa Cosma, MA, founder of Detroit Disability Power; and Theresa Anderson, MPP, PhD, a senior researcher at the Urban Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy organization. To register for this event, click here. 8:30 am–1 pm

A landmark lawsuit taking neo-Nazis and white supremacist groups to court will be going to trial on October 25. On behalf of residents of Charlottesville, Virginia, who were viciously attacked four years ago, the non-profit group Integrity First for America (IFA) is suing these hate groups. If successful in their lawsuit, these violent groups could be financially crippled and dismantled.

In two weeks, IFA will host their largest-ever virtual event, along with allied organizations and special guests. Since most of the legal work is pro-bono, the need for funds is primarily for the safety and security of the lawyers and plaintiffs due to the huge number of threats by far-right extremists. IFA is seeking to raise awareness, as well as raise critically need funds. Tell your friends and register now by clicking here.

The in-person walk will be taking place at the Southfield Civic Centre (26000 Evergreen Rd, south of 1-696). More info and Register here. Support a walker or team here. Registration opens at 9 am, the walk program will begin at 10 am.

Join the movement and the ACLU of Michigan's virtual community forum where Michiganders and lawmakers will come together to advocate for bail reform legislation. Reforming our bail system could have a powerful impact on ending systemic racism and reducing the number of people needlessly sitting in Michigan jails. RSVP and more info here. Four dates in October, each for a different area. 10/4 Metro Detroit, 10/6 Central Michigan, 10/12 West Michigan, 10/13 Northern Michigan. All programs 6:30–8 pm

Visit the PEG website to view the comprehensive listing of Upcoming Events!

Schools, as reported by A2D2-Ann Arbor inDivisible Dems, are placed in a difficult position. If infection rates get high enough that closing would be considered, under the new education budget rules, the schools could lose their state funding if 75% of students in a district aren't in attendance for 180 days.

Call these Michigan Senators and tell them SB600-SB603 will cause schools to close and send our children back into pandemic chaos. 

The non-partisan Michigan AFL-CIO Fair Maps project has worked to create maps that provide the fairest representation. From their website: https://miaflcio.org/fairmaps “The districts we drew in our maps comply with the letter and spirit of the Voting Rights Act; comply with equal population requirements; are contiguous; reflect Michigan’s diverse population and communities of interest; do not provide a disproportionate advantage to any political party; do not favor or disfavor any incumbent elected officials or candidates; reflect county, city and township boundaries; and are compact.”

Attend one of the in-person public hearings. Use the digital sign-up form linked here: https://forms.gle/VyS65TagdmNYW8Fi7. If you sign up, someone from the Fair Maps team will get back to you about making a public statement. For more information, please visit: https://miaflcio.org/fairmaps/ or contact Max Lewis at mlewis@mialcio.org. (734) 546-5744

In the waning and chaotic days of the Trump presidency, General Milley took it upon himself to call the senior ranking general of the Chinese military and reassure him that he’d warn him if an offensive against China was coming. Milley called his Chinese counterpart twice, once on October 30, 2020 and a second time on January 8, 2021, two days after the insurrection. Reported in Bob Woodward and Robert Costa’s new book, Peril, this news was confirmed by the General himself who’d told Nancy Pelosi that he was deeply concerned about Trump’s stability and the possibility he’d launch nuclear war to ensconce his presidency.   

Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee and his Republican colleagues, have condemned Milley’s action as treasonous. According to Lt Col Daniel L David in The Guardian, his behavior is grounds for dismissal. He writes, “No US military officer can seize authority from the president and [warn] the commanding officer of our greatest global rival.

But according to Jen Psaki, President Biden supports Milley’s “leadership, his patriotism, and his fidelity to our constitution.” In a written statement, Milley’s spokesman, Col Dave Butler, claimed Milley acted within his authority as the most senior uniformed adviser to the president and to the secretary of defense. Moreover, his calls were witnessed by those in the Department of Defense.

Regardless of the partisan controversy surrounding Milley’s calls to the Chinese, his actions belie our problematic chain of command: Should one man have the authority to launch nuclear warfare? What happens if he’s no longer stable or coherent?

Earlier this year, we shared a piece in the PEG newsletter entitled "A Hate Group Coming Near You." Unfortunately, that time is now. In February, we saw a major spike in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Recently, complaints have spiked again for residents of different backgrounds. Early Sunday morning, Ypsilanti community members were awakened to an ugly display of hatred as the community Black Lives Matter Street Mural was defaced and written over by a white nationalist group.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), White Nationalism differs from White Supremacy. White supremacy attempts to reframe our legal systems to harm unfavored groups, such as voter suppression and unequal justice by the law. White nationalism is the eradication of all unfavored groups. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has a glossary of terms, symbols, and a primer for these hate groups. Triche' Duckworth, of the local group Survivors Speak, sees this recent local hate as a chance for us to come together. This is our chance.

Last Friday, a panel of North Carolina judges voted 2-1 to strike down the state's latest photo voter-identification law, “agreeing with minority voters that Republicans rammed through rules tainted by racial bias as a way to remain in power.” The decision is likely headed to the state appeals court. According to NPR, “with a similar lawsuit in federal court set to go to trial this January and another state court lawsuit now on appeal, it's looking more unlikely that a voter ID mandate for in-person and absentee balloting will happen in the 2022 elections.”

Dr. Alan Braid became the first Texas abortion provider to publicly reveal that he violated the new, highly restrictive six-week abortion ban. On Monday he was sued by former attorneys in Arkansas and Illinois. In his opinion piece in the Washington Post, Dr. Baird wrote that when he began his residency in 1972, he “saw three teenagers die from illegal abortions. One I will never forget. When she came into the ER, her vaginal cavity was packed with rags. She died a few days later from massive organ failure, caused by a septic infection.” He continued in the piece that he has “daughters, granddaughters and nieces. I believe abortion is an essential part of health care. I have spent the past 50 years treating and helping patients. I can't just sit back and watch us return to 1972." - NPR

A special thanks to our Newsletter contributors: Bernie Banet, Ellen Halter, Mieko Preston, Leslie McGraw, Leslie Kamil, Lisa Kamil, Richard Gaeth, Susie Ayer, Bette Cotzin, and Chuck Newman for their contributions and help preparing our newsletters. Additionally, there is a substantial quote from Greg Levine, as first appeared in the A2D2 Indivisible Newsletter about the Secure MI Vote Petition. Write us at equalityingovinfo@gmail.com if you would like help create our weekly newsletter OR if you would like to be a guest contributor! It’s fun and no ongoing commitment is required.