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her way.”
ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that MCDONALD’S GREENWASHING CAMPAIGN IN MICHIGAN The major arguments are: 1) McDonald’s engages in deceptive advertising that targets children, 2) treats their workers poorly, 3) contributes to environmental destruction on a mass scale, 4) promotes cruelty to animals and 5) promotes poor nutrition. McDonald’s Farm to Front Counter campaign is a classic example of greenwashing in thatit
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that MCDONALD’S GREENWASHING CAMPAIGN IN MICHIGAN The major arguments are: 1) McDonald’s engages in deceptive advertising that targets children, 2) treats their workers poorly, 3) contributes to environmental destruction on a mass scale, 4) promotes cruelty to animals and 5) promotes poor nutrition. McDonald’s Farm to Front Counter campaign is a classic example of greenwashing in thatit
MONITORING WEALTH & POWER IN WEST MICHIGAN: A DEVOS FAMILY We try to update the DeVos Family Reader about every 6 months. We hadn’t updated the DeVos Family Reader since the beginning of December, but we now have an updated version, which puts the DeVos Family Reader over 500 pages. Just go to this link and the DeVosFamily Reader is
PROPOSED BILLS WOULD MAKE HOUSING STABILITY FOR THOSE It is bad enough that Michigan will not allow rent control at the state or municipal level, now there is legislation in both the House and the Senate that further takes away the ability of city governments to regulate the length of rental agreements. The business publication MiBiz, recently reported: A last-minute substitute to House MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFUND THE GRPD MOVEMENT IS AN On Monday, we posted a story about the new online efforts of the Grand Rapids Police Officer's Association (GRPOA) to lobby city officials to not Defund the GRPD. In response to that post a couple of GRIID supporters said they saw a billboard using the same visual theme as the online GRPOA campaign to oppose RADICAL DEMOCRACY OR MANAGED DEMOCRACY: THE GRAND RAPIDS Last week, the City of Grand Rapids announced that it was going to pilot a participatory budgeting project, using some of the money the city received from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. It is instructive that the City of Grand Rapids will be piloting this project just weeks after they received several hundred THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put ACTON INSTITUTE ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL VERDICT: BLACK On the day of the Derek Chauvin trial verdict, the Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute once again shows us what they really stand for. In an article posted just after the verdict was read, the Rev. Ben Johnson, who is the Executive Editor of the Acton Institute’s main journal Religion & Liberty, wrote, Derek Chauvin guilty, but riots will hurt Minneapolis for generations. FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact thatMANAGED DEMOCRACY
Posts about managed democracy written by Jeff Smith (GRIID) DEVOS FAMILY HISTORY 0 June 10, 2021 Monitoring Wealth & Power in West Michigan: A DeVos Family Reader – We’re Rich and We Do What We Want DEVOS INFLUENCE IN WEST MICHIGAN 0 June 10, 2021 Monitoring Wealth & Power in West Michigan: A DeVos Family Reader – We’re Rich and We Do What We Want GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACYABOUTDOCUMENTSGRIID CLASSESMEDIA LITERACYVIDEO ARCHIVESJEFF SMITH The sixth story that was aired by WOOD TV8, was an interview with Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Payne. This story was 9 minutes and 42 seconds long, with one soft ball question after another. Chief Payne adamantly defended his officers in the interview HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during WEST MICHIGAN FOUNDATION WATCH: THE EDGAR & ELSA PRINCE This will be our first installment of Foundation Watch for 2021, since West Michigan Foundations are beginning to submit their 2019 990 documents. The 990 documents are legally required to provide some transparency for foundation contributions, but it also provides us with a window into how the area’s largest foundations are spendingtheir money to
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DORITOS: DEMYSTIFYING THE AGRO This afternoon’s session of the 2011 Socialism Conference gave us a chance to hear Arun Gupta, a writer for the Indypendent. He began his talk by giving out Doritos to everyone in the room, in order to de-construct this so-called food item. According to Arun Doritos corners 32% of the corn chip market. Doritos are GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACYABOUTDOCUMENTSGRIID CLASSESMEDIA LITERACYVIDEO ARCHIVESJEFF SMITH The sixth story that was aired by WOOD TV8, was an interview with Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Payne. This story was 9 minutes and 42 seconds long, with one soft ball question after another. Chief Payne adamantly defended his officers in the interview HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during WEST MICHIGAN FOUNDATION WATCH: THE EDGAR & ELSA PRINCE This will be our first installment of Foundation Watch for 2021, since West Michigan Foundations are beginning to submit their 2019 990 documents. The 990 documents are legally required to provide some transparency for foundation contributions, but it also provides us with a window into how the area’s largest foundations are spendingtheir money to
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DORITOS: DEMYSTIFYING THE AGRO This afternoon’s session of the 2011 Socialism Conference gave us a chance to hear Arun Gupta, a writer for the Indypendent. He began his talk by giving out Doritos to everyone in the room, in order to de-construct this so-called food item. According to Arun Doritos corners 32% of the corn chip market. Doritos are GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACY The sixth story that was aired by WOOD TV8, was an interview with Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Payne. This story was 9 minutes and 42 seconds long, with one soft ball question after another. Chief Payne adamantly defended his officers in the interview MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFUND THE GRPD MOVEMENT IS AN On Monday, we posted a story about the new online efforts of the Grand Rapids Police Officer's Association (GRPOA) to lobby city officials to not Defund the GRPD. In response to that post a couple of GRIID supporters said they saw a billboard using the same visual theme as the online GRPOA campaign to oppose PROPOSED BILLS WOULD MAKE HOUSING STABILITY FOR THOSE It is bad enough that Michigan will not allow rent control at the state or municipal level, now there is legislation in both the House and the Senate that further takes away the ability of city governments to regulate the length of rental agreements. The business publication MiBiz, recently reported: A last-minute substitute to House RADICAL DEMOCRACY OR MANAGED DEMOCRACY: THE GRAND RAPIDS Last week, the City of Grand Rapids announced that it was going to pilot a participatory budgeting project, using some of the money the city received from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. It is instructive that the City of Grand Rapids will be piloting this project just weeks after they received several hundred INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS MOORE ON HIS BOOK, WE WILL WIN THE We recently interviewed GVSU Professor Louis Moore on his book, We Will Win the Day: The Civil Rights Movement, the Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality. The book originally came out in 2017 in hardback, but will be republished in paperback form LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
BUYING PUBLIC POLICY: WHY DO POLITICIANS THAT CLAIM TO A few weeks ago we posted an article that challenged the claim made by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce that they want everyone in this community to thrive. Anyone who uses their brain will know that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce opposes an increase in the minimum wage, works to undermine labor unions, opposes a tax increase for the rich, and a long list of other policiesMANAGED DEMOCRACY
Posts about managed democracy written by Jeff Smith (GRIID) CANDIDATES WHO GET MONEY FROM GR CHAMBER Posts about candidates who get money from GR Chamber written by JeffSmith (GRIID)
GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACY The LGBT Resource Center at GVSU is hosting a screening of an important documentary that explores the intersectionality of today’s most pressing social justice issues.. Angela Davis and Tim Wise, two of this country’s leading racial and social justice scholar-activists, join moderator Rose Aguilar onstage for a rare, unscripted and free ranging conversation on the state of contemporary THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that RADICAL DEMOCRACY OR MANAGED DEMOCRACY: THE GRAND RAPIDS Last week, the City of Grand Rapids announced that it was going to pilot a participatory budgeting project, using some of the money the city received from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. It is instructive that the City of Grand Rapids will be piloting this project just weeks after they received several hundred THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put ACTON INSTITUTE ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL VERDICT: BLACK On the day of the Derek Chauvin trial verdict, the Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute once again shows us what they really stand for. In an article posted just after the verdict was read, the Rev. Ben Johnson, who is the Executive Editor of the Acton Institute’s main journal Religion & Liberty, wrote, Derek Chauvin guilty, but riots will hurt Minneapolis for generations. LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact thatMANAGED DEMOCRACY
Posts about managed democracy written by Jeff Smith (GRIID) BUYING PUBLIC POLICY: WHY DO POLITICIANS THAT CLAIM TO A few weeks ago we posted an article that challenged the claim made by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce that they want everyone in this community to thrive. Anyone who uses their brain will know that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce opposes an increase in the minimum wage, works to undermine labor unions, opposes a tax increase for the rich, and a long list of other policies CANDIDATES WHO GET MONEY FROM GR CHAMBER Posts about candidates who get money from GR Chamber written by JeffSmith (GRIID)
GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACY The LGBT Resource Center at GVSU is hosting a screening of an important documentary that explores the intersectionality of today’s most pressing social justice issues.. Angela Davis and Tim Wise, two of this country’s leading racial and social justice scholar-activists, join moderator Rose Aguilar onstage for a rare, unscripted and free ranging conversation on the state of contemporary THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that RADICAL DEMOCRACY OR MANAGED DEMOCRACY: THE GRAND RAPIDS Last week, the City of Grand Rapids announced that it was going to pilot a participatory budgeting project, using some of the money the city received from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. It is instructive that the City of Grand Rapids will be piloting this project just weeks after they received several hundred THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
ACTON INSTITUTE ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL VERDICT: BLACK On the day of the Derek Chauvin trial verdict, the Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute once again shows us what they really stand for. In an article posted just after the verdict was read, the Rev. Ben Johnson, who is the Executive Editor of the Acton Institute’s main journal Religion & Liberty, wrote, Derek Chauvin guilty, but riots will hurt Minneapolis for generations.MANAGED DEMOCRACY
Posts about managed democracy written by Jeff Smith (GRIID) FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that BUYING PUBLIC POLICY: WHY DO POLITICIANS THAT CLAIM TO A few weeks ago we posted an article that challenged the claim made by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce that they want everyone in this community to thrive. Anyone who uses their brain will know that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce opposes an increase in the minimum wage, works to undermine labor unions, opposes a tax increase for the rich, and a long list of other policies CANDIDATES WHO GET MONEY FROM GR CHAMBER Posts about candidates who get money from GR Chamber written by JeffSmith (GRIID)
GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACY The LGBT Resource Center at GVSU is hosting a screening of an important documentary that explores the intersectionality of today’s most pressing social justice issues.. Angela Davis and Tim Wise, two of this country’s leading racial and social justice scholar-activists, join moderator Rose Aguilar onstage for a rare, unscripted and free ranging conversation on the state of contemporary THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that RADICAL DEMOCRACY OR MANAGED DEMOCRACY: THE GRAND RAPIDS Last week, the City of Grand Rapids announced that it was going to pilot a participatory budgeting project, using some of the money the city received from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. It is instructive that the City of Grand Rapids will be piloting this project just weeks after they received several hundred THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
ACTON INSTITUTE ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL VERDICT: BLACK On the day of the Derek Chauvin trial verdict, the Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute once again shows us what they really stand for. In an article posted just after the verdict was read, the Rev. Ben Johnson, who is the Executive Editor of the Acton Institute’s main journal Religion & Liberty, wrote, Derek Chauvin guilty, but riots will hurt Minneapolis for generations.MANAGED DEMOCRACY
Posts about managed democracy written by Jeff Smith (GRIID) FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that BUYING PUBLIC POLICY: WHY DO POLITICIANS THAT CLAIM TO A few weeks ago we posted an article that challenged the claim made by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce that they want everyone in this community to thrive. Anyone who uses their brain will know that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce opposes an increase in the minimum wage, works to undermine labor unions, opposes a tax increase for the rich, and a long list of other policies CANDIDATES WHO GET MONEY FROM GR CHAMBER Posts about candidates who get money from GR Chamber written by JeffSmith (GRIID)
GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACY The LGBT Resource Center at GVSU is hosting a screening of an important documentary that explores the intersectionality of today’s most pressing social justice issues.. Angela Davis and Tim Wise, two of this country’s leading racial and social justice scholar-activists, join moderator Rose Aguilar onstage for a rare, unscripted and free ranging conversation on the state of contemporary THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 5/11/2021: MORE RECREATIONAL This is our latest installment of The Devil is in the Details, which takes a critical look at Grand Rapids politics and policies, based primarily on the public record, such as committee agendas and minutes. In this installment we look at recent recreational cannabis operations likely to be approved by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission during HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
HOW DOES THE CEO OF A CHARTER SCHOOL CONGLOMERATE NOT KNOW A few days ago, there was a video of a late April meeting of the Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Promise, which you can watch here.. The Grand Rapids Promise was created in 2019, just as Teresa Weatherall Neal was stepping down as the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. What grabbed people’s attention about this board meeting, was a question asked by board member JC ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONS Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that RADICAL DEMOCRACY OR MANAGED DEMOCRACY: THE GRAND RAPIDS Last week, the City of Grand Rapids announced that it was going to pilot a participatory budgeting project, using some of the money the city received from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. It is instructive that the City of Grand Rapids will be piloting this project just weeks after they received several hundred THE DEADLINE FOR ENBRIDGE TO STOP USING LINE 5 IS NEXT In the coming days, there will be actions against the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline in both Lansing and in northern Michigan. Indigenous Water Protectors sent out a media release recently, that states: Great Lakes Water Protectors are organizing peaceful gatherings at the Line 5 transfer sites of McGulpin Point Lighthouse at 500 Headlands Rd THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
ACTON INSTITUTE ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL VERDICT: BLACK On the day of the Derek Chauvin trial verdict, the Grand Rapids-based Acton Institute once again shows us what they really stand for. In an article posted just after the verdict was read, the Rev. Ben Johnson, who is the Executive Editor of the Acton Institute’s main journal Religion & Liberty, wrote, Derek Chauvin guilty, but riots will hurt Minneapolis for generations.MANAGED DEMOCRACY
Posts about managed democracy written by Jeff Smith (GRIID) FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL WERE INVOLVED IN In the last few days, there have been photos of the co-founders of the American Patriot Council, Ryan Kelley and Jason Howland, at the January 6 siege on the US Capitol. The pictures of Kelley, at least the ones I have seen, shows him outside, like the picture here on the right. The fact that BUYING PUBLIC POLICY: WHY DO POLITICIANS THAT CLAIM TO A few weeks ago we posted an article that challenged the claim made by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce that they want everyone in this community to thrive. Anyone who uses their brain will know that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce opposes an increase in the minimum wage, works to undermine labor unions, opposes a tax increase for the rich, and a long list of other policies CANDIDATES WHO GET MONEY FROM GR CHAMBER Posts about candidates who get money from GR Chamber written by JeffSmith (GRIID)
GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACY The LGBT Resource Center at GVSU is hosting a screening of an important documentary that explores the intersectionality of today’s most pressing social justice issues.. Angela Davis and Tim Wise, two of this country’s leading racial and social justice scholar-activists, join moderator Rose Aguilar onstage for a rare, unscripted and free ranging conversation on the state of contemporary HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS MOORE ON HIS BOOK, WE WILL WIN THE We recently interviewed GVSU Professor Louis Moore on his book, We Will Win the Day: The Civil Rights Movement, the Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality. The book originally came out in 2017 in hardback, but will be republished in paperback form MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFUND THE GRPD MOVEMENT IS AN On Monday, we posted a story about the new online efforts of the Grand Rapids Police Officer's Association (GRPOA) to lobby city officials to not Defund the GRPD. In response to that post a couple of GRIID supporters said they saw a billboard using the same visual theme as the online GRPOA campaign to oppose JENNIFER GRANHOLM AS SECRETARY OF ENERGY: WHY I’M NOTJENNIFER GRANHOLM SEC OF ENERGYJENNIFER GRANHOLM ENERGY SECRETARYJENNIFER GRANHOLM POLICY ON ENERGYJENNIFER GRANHOLM ENERGY EXPERTISESECRETARY OF ENERGY BIDENSECRETARY OF ENERGY DEPARTMENT It has been less than 24 hours since the Biden camp has announced that former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has been nominated as Secretary of Energy. So far, the liberal establishment has been celebrating this news. This celebration includes many establishment environmental groups, like GreenPeace, which said: “We’re glad that President-elect Biden is listening to FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONSJANDERNOA FOUNDATIONJANDERNOA FAMILYMIKE AND SUE JANDERNOAJANDERNOA GRAND RAPIDSMIKE JANDERNOA PERRIGOJANDERNOA ENTREPRENEURIAL MENTORING Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL 0 February 20, 2021 West Michigan Far Right Watch for the week of February 14 – 21: Corporate Welfare, eulogizing Rush Limbaugh andPatriot hypocrisy
I ONCE WORKED FOR A PRIEST WHO ABUSED CHILDREN: SEXUAL A new report was published recently that documents the systemic abuses by Catholic priests in the state of Pennsylvania.. Last week Democracy Now devoted two segments to this issue, with one segment looking at information about 300 priests abuses over 1,000 children and the Catholic Church covered it up. The second segment interviewed someone who was a survivor of abuse and a THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DORITOS: DEMYSTIFYING THE AGRO This afternoon’s session of the 2011 Socialism Conference gave us a chance to hear Arun Gupta, a writer for the Indypendent. He began his talk by giving out Doritos to everyone in the room, in order to de-construct this so-called food item. According to Arun Doritos corners 32% of the corn chip market. Doritos are HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS MOORE ON HIS BOOK, WE WILL WIN THE We recently interviewed GVSU Professor Louis Moore on his book, We Will Win the Day: The Civil Rights Movement, the Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality. The book originally came out in 2017 in hardback, but will be republished in paperback form MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFUND THE GRPD MOVEMENT IS AN On Monday, we posted a story about the new online efforts of the Grand Rapids Police Officer's Association (GRPOA) to lobby city officials to not Defund the GRPD. In response to that post a couple of GRIID supporters said they saw a billboard using the same visual theme as the online GRPOA campaign to oppose JENNIFER GRANHOLM AS SECRETARY OF ENERGY: WHY I’M NOTJENNIFER GRANHOLM SEC OF ENERGYJENNIFER GRANHOLM ENERGY SECRETARYJENNIFER GRANHOLM POLICY ON ENERGYJENNIFER GRANHOLM ENERGY EXPERTISESECRETARY OF ENERGY BIDENSECRETARY OF ENERGY DEPARTMENT It has been less than 24 hours since the Biden camp has announced that former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has been nominated as Secretary of Energy. So far, the liberal establishment has been celebrating this news. This celebration includes many establishment environmental groups, like GreenPeace, which said: “We’re glad that President-elect Biden is listening to FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONSJANDERNOA FOUNDATIONJANDERNOA FAMILYMIKE AND SUE JANDERNOAJANDERNOA GRAND RAPIDSMIKE JANDERNOA PERRIGOJANDERNOA ENTREPRENEURIAL MENTORING Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL 0 February 20, 2021 West Michigan Far Right Watch for the week of February 14 – 21: Corporate Welfare, eulogizing Rush Limbaugh andPatriot hypocrisy
I ONCE WORKED FOR A PRIEST WHO ABUSED CHILDREN: SEXUAL A new report was published recently that documents the systemic abuses by Catholic priests in the state of Pennsylvania.. Last week Democracy Now devoted two segments to this issue, with one segment looking at information about 300 priests abuses over 1,000 children and the Catholic Church covered it up. The second segment interviewed someone who was a survivor of abuse and a THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DORITOS: DEMYSTIFYING THE AGRO This afternoon’s session of the 2011 Socialism Conference gave us a chance to hear Arun Gupta, a writer for the Indypendent. He began his talk by giving out Doritos to everyone in the room, in order to de-construct this so-called food item. According to Arun Doritos corners 32% of the corn chip market. Doritos are BUYING PUBLIC POLICY: WHY DO POLITICIANS THAT CLAIM TO A few weeks ago we posted an article that challenged the claim made by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce that they want everyone in this community to thrive. Anyone who uses their brain will know that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce opposes an increase in the minimum wage, works to undermine labor unions, opposes a tax increase for the rich, and a long list of other policies WHEN THE LABOR MOVEMENT WAS MORE RADICAL IN GRAND RAPIDS Grand Rapids is not unlike most of the US in many aspects of our history. The same can definitely be said about the labor movement. Like much of the rest of the country, when the labor movement was more independent and autonomous from political parties, they tended to be more radical, meaning they fought for LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF 4 US CHURCH WORKERS IN It was 40 years ago today that the bodies of four US church workers – Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan – were exhumed from where the spot they were clandestinely buried the day they were murdered. Ita, Maura and Dorothy were nuns in the Catholic Church and had been working in CANDIDATES WHO GET MONEY FROM GR CHAMBER Posts about candidates who get money from GR Chamber written by JeffSmith (GRIID)
AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL 0 February 20, 2021 West Michigan Far Right Watch for the week of February 14 – 21: Corporate Welfare, eulogizing Rush Limbaugh andPatriot hypocrisy
GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACY The Grand Rapids Police Department has been reeling for over a year now, because of public outrage over numerous incidents where cops pulled guns on black youth. GRAND RAPIDS INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION DEMOCRACY Yesterday, the DeVos-created group AmplifyGR sent an e-mail to the group Grand Rapids Homes for All cancelling the meeting that was scheduled for June 8 at the Baxter Community Center. FOUNDATION WATCH: CHERI DEVOS AND THE CDV5 FOUNDATION The Cheri DeVos Foundation, also known as the CVD5 Foundation, is probably the least known of the DeVos family foundations. This is not surprising, as Cheri DeVos is not in the news like her other siblings, Dick, Doug and Dan. However, the lack of media attention, doesn’t mean that Cheri DeVos doesn’t have the same HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS MOORE ON HIS BOOK, WE WILL WIN THE We recently interviewed GVSU Professor Louis Moore on his book, We Will Win the Day: The Civil Rights Movement, the Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality. The book originally came out in 2017 in hardback, but will be republished in paperback form MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFUND THE GRPD MOVEMENT IS AN On Monday, we posted a story about the new online efforts of the Grand Rapids Police Officer's Association (GRPOA) to lobby city officials to not Defund the GRPD. In response to that post a couple of GRIID supporters said they saw a billboard using the same visual theme as the online GRPOA campaign to oppose FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONSJANDERNOA FOUNDATIONJANDERNOA FAMILYMIKE AND SUE JANDERNOAJANDERNOA GRAND RAPIDSMIKE JANDERNOA PERRIGOJANDERNOA ENTREPRENEURIAL MENTORING Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on JENNIFER GRANHOLM AS SECRETARY OF ENERGY: WHY I’M NOTJENNIFER GRANHOLM SEC OF ENERGYJENNIFER GRANHOLM ENERGY SECRETARYJENNIFER GRANHOLM POLICY ON ENERGYJENNIFER GRANHOLM ENERGY EXPERTISESECRETARY OF ENERGY BIDENSECRETARY OF ENERGY DEPARTMENT It has been less than 24 hours since the Biden camp has announced that former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has been nominated as Secretary of Energy. So far, the liberal establishment has been celebrating this news. This celebration includes many establishment environmental groups, like GreenPeace, which said: “We’re glad that President-elect Biden is listening to AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL 0 February 20, 2021 West Michigan Far Right Watch for the week of February 14 – 21: Corporate Welfare, eulogizing Rush Limbaugh andPatriot hypocrisy
I ONCE WORKED FOR A PRIEST WHO ABUSED CHILDREN: SEXUAL A new report was published recently that documents the systemic abuses by Catholic priests in the state of Pennsylvania.. Last week Democracy Now devoted two segments to this issue, with one segment looking at information about 300 priests abuses over 1,000 children and the Catholic Church covered it up. The second segment interviewed someone who was a survivor of abuse and a THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DORITOS: DEMYSTIFYING THE AGRO This afternoon’s session of the 2011 Socialism Conference gave us a chance to hear Arun Gupta, a writer for the Indypendent. He began his talk by giving out Doritos to everyone in the room, in order to de-construct this so-called food item. According to Arun Doritos corners 32% of the corn chip market. Doritos are HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE POLICE KILLED IN 2021 SO FAR As I am accustomed to doing on a regular basis, early this week I checked the Voice for the Badge Facebook page. On March 13th, the founder of Voice for the Badge, Johnny Brann Sr. made the following post: 2021 to date Nationally 62 police officers died/killed 8 suicides Ya feel good about that - GOP PROPOSES ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN MICHIGAN: EVERY CO On March 10th, GOP Senators in Michigan introduced legislation that is anti-trans. The proposed bill, Senate Bill 0218, was introduced by Michigan Senator Lana Theis and was sponsored by the following GOP Senators: Tom Barrett, Jim Runestad, Roger Victory, Jon Bumstead, John Bison, Kevin Daley, Rick Outman, Aric Nesbitt, Kimberly LaSata, Michael MacDonald, Dale Born ONE OF THE BIGGEST LOOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS A PROBLEM One of the things I learned from Noam Chomsky, was the value of reading the business press. According to Chomsky, the business press if often more honest in the sense that it provides a forum for the wealthiest people to speak freely. This happened in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article on June 1st, where INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS MOORE ON HIS BOOK, WE WILL WIN THE We recently interviewed GVSU Professor Louis Moore on his book, We Will Win the Day: The Civil Rights Movement, the Black Athlete, and the Quest for Equality. The book originally came out in 2017 in hardback, but will be republished in paperback form MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFUND THE GRPD MOVEMENT IS AN On Monday, we posted a story about the new online efforts of the Grand Rapids Police Officer's Association (GRPOA) to lobby city officials to not Defund the GRPD. In response to that post a couple of GRIID supporters said they saw a billboard using the same visual theme as the online GRPOA campaign to oppose FOUNDATION WATCH: HOW THE JANDERNOA FOUNDATION FUNCTIONSJANDERNOA FOUNDATIONJANDERNOA FAMILYMIKE AND SUE JANDERNOAJANDERNOA GRAND RAPIDSMIKE JANDERNOA PERRIGOJANDERNOA ENTREPRENEURIAL MENTORING Michael Jandernoa is one of the lesser-known members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure. Jandernoa is the former president of Perrigo. In recent years, Jandernoa has been involved with 42 North Partners, which he created with his wife Sue. In addition, Jandernoa serves as General Partner at Bridge Street Capital Fund I, L.P, where he sits on JENNIFER GRANHOLM AS SECRETARY OF ENERGY: WHY I’M NOTJENNIFER GRANHOLM SEC OF ENERGYJENNIFER GRANHOLM ENERGY SECRETARYJENNIFER GRANHOLM POLICY ON ENERGYJENNIFER GRANHOLM ENERGY EXPERTISESECRETARY OF ENERGY BIDENSECRETARY OF ENERGY DEPARTMENT It has been less than 24 hours since the Biden camp has announced that former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has been nominated as Secretary of Energy. So far, the liberal establishment has been celebrating this news. This celebration includes many establishment environmental groups, like GreenPeace, which said: “We’re glad that President-elect Biden is listening to AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL 0 February 20, 2021 West Michigan Far Right Watch for the week of February 14 – 21: Corporate Welfare, eulogizing Rush Limbaugh andPatriot hypocrisy
I ONCE WORKED FOR A PRIEST WHO ABUSED CHILDREN: SEXUAL A new report was published recently that documents the systemic abuses by Catholic priests in the state of Pennsylvania.. Last week Democracy Now devoted two segments to this issue, with one segment looking at information about 300 priests abuses over 1,000 children and the Catholic Church covered it up. The second segment interviewed someone who was a survivor of abuse and a THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DORITOS: DEMYSTIFYING THE AGRO This afternoon’s session of the 2011 Socialism Conference gave us a chance to hear Arun Gupta, a writer for the Indypendent. He began his talk by giving out Doritos to everyone in the room, in order to de-construct this so-called food item. According to Arun Doritos corners 32% of the corn chip market. Doritos are 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF 4 US CHURCH WORKERS IN It was 40 years ago today that the bodies of four US church workers – Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan – were exhumed from where the spot they were clandestinely buried the day they were murdered. Ita, Maura and Dorothy were nuns in the Catholic Church and had been working in WHEN THE LABOR MOVEMENT WAS MORE RADICAL IN GRAND RAPIDS Grand Rapids is not unlike most of the US in many aspects of our history. The same can definitely be said about the labor movement. Like much of the rest of the country, when the labor movement was more independent and autonomous from political parties, they tended to be more radical, meaning they fought for THE GRPD ARREST OF A BLACK MAN GOING TO A FAMILY WAKE WAS On Friday, MLive ran an article entitled, GRPD training being questioned after Black man forcibly arrested despite police stopping the wrong vehicle. The article details a recent arrest by the GRPD of a Black man who was on the way to his his mother-in-law’s wake. Several GRPD officers forced the man to the ground, put LONGTIME DEVOS FAMILY OPERATIVE, GREG MCNEILLY, IS Last Friday, Greg McNeilly, Chairman of the Michigan Freedom Fund, posted a comment on the organization’s blog, entitled, Party Like It’s 1979. The blog post was making a cheeky remark about the Colonial Pipeline shut down and that Michigan might also be experiencing a rise in gas prices, especially if Gov. Whitmer “getsher way.”
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IN GRAND RAPIDS HOSTS VIGIL/PROTEST Last night, about 150 people came out to participate in the Every Child Matters Vigil/Protest that was organized by local Indigenous women who had recently organized a protest against the disappearance/death of Indigenous girls/women in recent years throughout the so-called United States. The gathering of mostly indigenous people was a direct response to the recentRESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
0 June 4, 2021 Indigenous community in Grand Rapids hosts vigil/protest to hold the Catholic Church accountable for genocidal acts perpetrated against Indigenous children BUYING PUBLIC POLICY: WHY DO POLITICIANS THAT CLAIM TO A few weeks ago we posted an article that challenged the claim made by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce that they want everyone in this community to thrive. Anyone who uses their brain will know that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce opposes an increase in the minimum wage, works to undermine labor unions, opposes a tax increase for the rich, and a long list of other policies CATHOLIC CHURCH COMPLICITY 0 June 4, 2021 Indigenous community in Grand Rapids hosts vigil/protest to hold the Catholic Church accountable for genocidal acts perpetrated against Indigenous children AMERICAN PATRIOT COUNCIL 0 February 20, 2021 West Michigan Far Right Watch for the week of February 14 – 21: Corporate Welfare, eulogizing Rush Limbaugh andPatriot hypocrisy
CANDIDATES WHO GET MONEY FROM GR CHAMBER Posts about candidates who get money from GR Chamber written by JeffSmith (GRIID)
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WE NEED A CAMPAIGN TO DEFUND THE GRPDJune 2, 2020
tags: defunding the GRPD , divest & invest , GRPD and harm against the black community,
GRPD one third of the City's budget by Jeff Smith (GRIID) The actions on the part of the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD), and city officials in the past few days, have made it clear that the GRPD does NOT have the interests of many in this community, especially black, brown, indigenous and immigrant communities. This has been the case for a long time, especially for the most marginalized communities. Therefore, it seems like this is a perfect time to talk about and act on the idea of defunding the GRPD. It is also what communities across the country have been calling for and is specifically part of the Black Lives Matter Vision.
In the chart above, which is from the 2019 Grand Rapids City Budget (2020 is still being decided upon), you can see that the GRPD receives the largest amount of funding of all departments in the City – $53,727,579. The total expenses for 2019 are $142,683,745, thus reflecting that the GRPD USES OVER A THIRD OF THE CITY’S BUDGET. Considering how much taxpayer money is consumed by the GRPD, it is important that we then recognize what they are doing, particularly as it relates to what they do in black and brown neighborhoods. The GRPD spends more time “patrolling” in black and brown neighborhoods, and with the constant and intense presence, it not only results in creating a greater climate of terror, it results in a high rate of harassment, intimidation and arrests amongst black and brown residents. Below is a short and partial list of incidents that have been documented in recent years. However, it is important to note that this kind of repression happens all the time, even if it doesn’t receive media attention or isn’t reported. * OCTOBER 2016 – Tasers were drawn on Black Youth and they were handcuffed and detained. * APRIL 2017 – Police held youth at gunpoint at the Kroc Center and they were handcuffed and detained. Police refused to apologize to the youth when they realized that they had stopped the wrong people. * APRIL 2017 – The Police Traffic Stop Study revealed that Black drivers were twice as likely to be stopped, searched, and handcuffed, which was followed by a call to action from the black community.
* DECEMBER 2017 – 11-years-old African American girl was held at gunpoint, cuffed, and detained while GRPD searched for a 40-year-old white suspect. * SEPTEMBER 2018 – Count Commissioner Robert Womack organized a march to protest handcuffing Black Children after GRPD againhandcuffed a child
.
* FEBRUARY 2019 – People protest at GR City Commission meeting to demand that GRPD Captain VanderKooi be fired for his role in callingICE
on Jilmar Ramos-Gomez. * MARCH 2019 – It is revealed by the police union that they wanted to arrested people during the 2018 immigration protest,
organized by Movimiento Cosecha GR, simply because participants didn’t follow the police determined route. * MARCH 2019 – Latino youth were stopped at gunpoint by the GRPD for walking in their neighborhood * MARCH 2019 – the Michigan Department of Civil Rights hears testimony on racial discrimination from 80 Grand Rapids residents,
open 23 separate investigations as a result. * MAY 2020 – Despite increasing awareness around policing concerns caused by the death of people such as Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, the GRPD proposed cuts to community programs and staff positions for oversight, data collection, and accountability. *Budget is restored only after the community raises concerns for their continued need. (_part of this list came from a recent message sent out by LINC_) Since the GRPD consumes over a third of the City’s budget and because they have repeatedly demonstrated that they will use violent tactics to repress people, why not create a movement to Defund the Police? Here is a proposal. One option would be to cut the GRPD’s funding by one-third over the next three years, thus fading out what is now the GRPD. If we use the 2019 amount of the GRPD’s budget, which is $53,727,579, one-third of that would be $17,909,193. This would do two things. FIRST, defunding the GRPD would send a strong message to people that the City is finally taking their concerns seriously, plus it would likely result in a reduction of the harm they would be doing, since the GRPD would have less taxpayer money. SECOND, the City should then re-invest the money that is being defunded from the GRPD, by proving it to communities that are experiencing poverty (especially black and brown communities), who would then decide how they want to money to be used. Funding could go to housing, creating community gardens, or more specifically to community-based safety projects, which would reduce crime and thus the need for cops. Imagine what roughly $18 million could be used for, each year for three year period that the City would defund the GRPD. After the three year period of phasing out the GRPD, then residents could demand that there be ongoing funding for neighborhoods and communities disproportionately impacted by police intimidation, police harassment, police surveillance and police violence. The people of Grand Rapids would then not only have a say in how tax dollars are being spent, but be able to benefit from the funding of radically imagined ideas and projects that would enrich the lives of people who most desperatelyneed it.
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FUND TO SUPPORT FOLKS ARRESTED AT GRAND RAPIDS PROTESTSJune 2, 2020
tags: GRPD arrests , Michigan Solidarity Bail Fund, protests in
Grand Rapids
by Jeff Smith (GRIID) According to a press release from the City of Grand Rapids, 7 people were arrested on the night of May 30 / early morning of May 31 during protests against police in downtown Grand Rapids. Additionally, several people were arrested on the subsequent two nights for violating a curfew instituted in response to the protests.
].
The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) is pledging to make future arrests, threatening “hundreds” of arrests as they comb over surveillance camera footage, social media posts, and evidence submitted through their online snitch portal. In response, a group of folks in Grand Rapids are working with the Michigan Solidarity Bail Fund to raise money to support those arrested as a result of the recent actions in Grand Rapids.Link
to donate:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/michigan-solidarity-bail-fund Further updates will be forthcoming. Check out the website and/or follow on Instgram. If you know
of anyone arrested, please get in touch with the Michigan Solidarity Bail Fund at michigansolidaritybaildfund gmail com. ALSO, PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU POST ONLINE — EVEN INNOCENT SEEMING POSTS CAN INCRIMINATE OTHERS. THIS INCLUDES PHOTOS/VIDEO, SPECULATION, RUMORS, AND ACCUSATIONS ABOUT WHAT INDIVIDUALS DID, WHERE THEY LIVE, AND/OR WHAT THEIR MOTIVATIONS MAY BE. PLEASE DON’T DO THE WORK OF THE STATE.Leave a comment
from → Indy News
SINS OF OMISSION: THE GRAND RAPIDS-BASED ACTON INSTITUTE, THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE FAILURE OF WHITE INSTITUTIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VIOLENCE DONE TO BLACK PEOPLEJune 1, 2020
tags: Acton Institute and George Floyd's murder,
Acton Institute and White Supremacy by Jeff Smith (GRIID)The
Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty continues to demonstrate that they have no empathy for those who are fightingrepression.
The only post, as of this writing, that is responding to the police murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, was an article by Dan Hugger, entitled, _George Floyd reveals the bankruptcy of the elites. _
Despite the headline, the Acton writer doesn’t really blame elites directly, meaning he doesn’t call out the people in power – elites – like the President or members of Congress, or the capitalist class or religious leaders. Instead, in the very first sentence, Huggerwrites:
_T__he __protests, looting, and fires__ which
have rocked the city of Minneapolis after the tragic death of George Floyd are yet another illustration of the comprehensive failure of our leading institutions, which seem __incompetent and unprepared__ to
handle society’s widespread anger and alienation._ It is instructive that this sentence is not so much about George Floyd, but about the public’s response to Floyd’s murder at the hand of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In fact, the Acton article doesn’t even mention that Floyd was murdered by a cop, nor does it say that George Floyd was a black man and that his killer wasa white man.
Racism and White Supremacy are completely omitted from the Acton article, which means they are never mentioned as the source(s) of “_SOCIETY’S WIDESPREAD ANGER AND ALIENATION._” The Acton writer does name certain “isms” that are to blame, like Communism, Nationalism, Socialism and populism as contributing to the problem, but nothing about structural racism, institutionalized discrimination or the history of White Supremacy. In addition, the problem, in the eyes of the Acton writer, is, “_the comprehensive failure of our_ _leading institutions, which seem __incompetent and unprepared__ to
handle society’s widespread anger and alienation.” _ Later in the article, the Acton writer cites Martin Gurri, a professor and author of several books, who lays the blame of _the “revolt of the public”,” which is the tsunami of information unleashed by theinternet._
Apparently people in Minneapolis are pissed off because they have TOO MUCH information. Sweet Jesus! This is the type of intellectual arrogance we have come to know from the Acton Institute, since in wasfounded in 1990.
More importantly, this article is just the most recent example of how the Acton Institute is not only complicit in structural racism and White Supremacy, but they perpetuate and re-create these systems of oppression, especially by through their dogmatic adherence to Neo-Liberal Capitalism.Leave a comment
from → Dissecting the Local News A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOW THE GRPD RESPONDS TO PROTESTS AND DISSENTJune 1, 2020
tags: GRPD and protests , GRPD and suppression of dissent, GRPD
infiltrates protesters by Jeff Smith (GRIID)Since
the demonstration on Saturday, I have seen a awful lot of White people complaining about property destruction in Grand Rapids and using language like peaceful and violent protesters. These types of reactions are to be expected, especially from people who generally have no idea of what it means to be systematically brutalized and oppressed. There have been numerous reports on the ground of people talking about the tactics and weapons of the GRPD. This is always important for people to understand, as the GRPD is just like any other police force in the country. What I want to do in this article is to provide a brief overview of how the GRPD has responded to protests and dissent since its founding in 1871. However, before we look at some examples of how the GRPD has responded to protests and dissent in Grand Rapids, it is important to make clear what the origin and function of police departments are. FIRST, the origin of policing in the US comes right out of slave patrols, where white men organized for the specific purpose of hunting down and capturing black people who had engaged in self-emancipation from slavery. (see Kristian Williams book, _Our Enemies in Blue: Police and Power in America.) _
SECOND, the function of policing is primarily about protecting systems of power and maintaining “order,” which is to say that the police will not tolerate any disruption to structural racism, patriarchy, capitalism and environmental destruction. The real crimes, which isstructural violence
, is protected
and maintained, especially when law enforcement agencies prevent people from resisting these crimes. Now, people will argue that there are good cops and bad cops, so we can’t lump them all together. However, this is not about individual behavior, but a system or structure of law enforcement, which has historically oppressed black, brown and indigenous people, along with suppressing dissent and protest from a variety of sectors in society, around numerous issues. What follows are some examples of how the GRPD has responded to protests and dissent over the years. 1967 REBELLION IN GRAND RAPIDS Now that the City of Grand Rapids has brought in the National Guard and imposed a curfew, the best example to start with is the 1967 riot/rebellion in Grand Rapids. The last time the National Guard came to GR was in 1967. The city also imposed a curfew on the residents. The 1967 rebellion in Grand Rapids was sparked by the GRPD,
when they pulled over several black youth. The city was under a militarized lockdown for three days. White people were calling for blood and several white people contacted the GRPD offering to bring their guns to stop the black rebellion. Several months after the 1967 riot, the Grand Rapids City government published a report called, Anatomy of a Riot. We
posted an article
that
provided some analysis of the report by the City of Grand Rapids, which is very instructive, both in terms of the data and the recommendations that make up part of the report. The recommendations were the standard recommendations that focused on “providing opportunities” instead of addressed systemic problems. 1911 FURNITURE WORKERS STRIKE In April of 1911, thousands of Grand Rapids furniture workers went onstrike
,
demanding better pay, better work conditions and the right to form a union. Who do you think the GRPD protected during this strike, the workers or the furniture barons? Jeffrey Kleiman’s important book, _Strike! How the Furniture Workers Strike of 1911 Changed Grand Rapids, _provides some answers to what the GRPD did. Kleiman writes about striking workers who had gathered outside of the Widdicomb factory to confront the owner: _“Finally, thirty club-wielding policemen pushed forward, breaking the crowd up and falling upon one stubborn protester who refused toleave. _
_Midway through the efforts to disperse the rioters, the police arrested a few men and began to retreat towards the Sixth Street Bridge. Using their prisoners as shields, the policemen fired their weapons into the air until they ran out of ammunition. Hand-to-hand battles ensued and the rioters threatened to overwhelm the police until reinforcements appeared. The fighting continued until the street was filled with madly running and cursing men and women with almost every other face….streaked with blood from an injury or from the injury of another.”_ 2003 ANTI-IRAQ WAR PROTESTS Before the US invasion and occupation of Iraq had begun in 2003, the GRPD attempted to infiltrate the anti-war movement in Grand Rapids, sending undercover cops, spying on organizers, intimidating people involved and arresting dozens of people who were protesting the brutal US invasion/occupation of Iraq. With the assistance of the ACLU, anti-war organizers were able to obtain FOIA documents, which can be found at this link. 1980S CENTRAL AMERICAN SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT There was a pretty lively Central American Solidarity Movement in Grand Rapids during the 1980s, with numerous action direct at Congressman Paul Henry. Rep. Henry consistently voted in support of US military aid the El Salvador and to the Nicaraguan Contra terroristforces.
People would occupy Congressman Henry’s office in the Federal Building and shut down Michigan Street when the Jesuit priests were murdered in El Salvador. In another action, protesters used Congressman Henry’s phone to call the GRPD to tell them that Crimes Against Humanity were happening at 110 Michigan. The GRPD showed up and dragged the protesters out of Rep. Henry’s office. For the GRPD, it was ok that Congressman Henry and his staff were participating in war crimes, but it was not ok for people to protestsuch crimes.
GRPD AFTER FERGUSON UPRISING The GRPD and the City of Grand Rapids decided that body cameras and racial bias training would be enough to satisfy people after the uprising in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. However, there were numerous incidents where the GRPD pulled guns on black youth, arrested and beat black adults, which led to ongoing protest and resistance from the black community in Grand Rapids. Here are some examples from the past few years, where members of the black community have followed “official channels,” only to be ignored or minimized by the City of Grand Rapids and the GRPD. “It was a peaceful event”: How media framed Saturday’s event and virtually eliminated any analysis of state violence that targets theBlack community
The GRPD, White Supremacy and Community Accountability Calls for a State of Emergency in Grand Rapids elicits no meaningful response from City Officials Billed as Community-Police relations “listening tour,” the meeting was a highly managed forum Chief Rahinsky gets nauseated, but defends police violence against the black community in Grand Rapids GRPD’s recent detaining of black youth was just following procedureand it was racist
Latest GRPD Press Conference addresses recent police assaults on residents of color: Acting Chief says if people obeyed the police there would be no problems Later this week, we will post about the recent history of GRPD’s harassment, intimidation and surveillance of Movimiento Cosehca GR and GR Rapid Response to ICE.Leave a comment
from → Indy News
DON’T LET THE SYSTEM CONTROL THE NARRATIVE ON THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST IN GRAND RAPIDSMay 31, 2020
tags: black lives matter protest in Grand Rapids,
centering black lives , GRPD beats black man , march against police brutality, protest in
Grand Rapids
by Jeff Smith (GRIID)Yesterday,
there were several calls for protests in Grand Rapids, protests against the ongoing murder and repression of black people by cops all around the country and in this city. Some black organizers began hosting demonstrations at 11am at Rosa Parks Circle, with another protest joining them, a protest which started at MLK Park. A third call for resisting police violence against black people was scheduled for 6pm, also at Rosa Parks Circle. I arrived at 4:30pm to be part of a crowd safety team for the 6pm Black Lives Matter protest, which was organized by several young black women. The black women who organized the action had been in contact with volunteer organizers with Movimiento Cosecha GR, who offered to provide a crowd safety team. Just before the march began, the crowd had grown to maybe 2,000 people. Signs and banners were numerous, with most of the signs centering either on the white supremacist violence of police or the names of black people, like George Floyd, who have recently beenmurdered by cops.
At this point the GRPD primarily had cops on bikes in several areas around the park, with several cops doing surveillance on rooftops, using cameras and drones. The march left Rosa Parks Circle around 6pm and came out on to Monroe street, taking up the two lanes of traffic going south. March organizers then moved east on Fulton. The cops on bicycles followed on the sidewalk, but did not intervene and prevent people from protesting in the street. Over the last few decades, the GRPD has generally not tolerated people marching in the streets, unless there are numbers, and there were definitely too many people to police last night. The march was billed as a Silent March, but there could be chants of “No Justice, No Peace” or “Black Lives Matter” heard throughout the march, especially since there were several thousand people marching at this point, making it impossible to see the end. As the march moved up Fulton, nearing Division, protesters could still be seen turning left on Fulton from Monroe. The march paused at the corner of Fulton and Division for a brief period, allowing time for those coming up Fulton to catch up. People who were in cars didn’t seem to mind having to wait and many of them hand sings in support of the protest. March organizers then decided to go in front of the GRPD headquarters on Monroe Center. When the march arrived to to the front entrance of the police department, there were about 15 GRPD cops on bikes lined up in front of the entrance facing protesters. The protesters began chanting “I can’t breathe” and “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Ass Police.” The crowd was moving closer and closer to the police station, many verbalizing what they thought of the cops on bikes. The march organizers did not want to stay at the police station for long, and after 15 minutes decided tokeep marching.
The march then moved down Monroe Center to Ionia, then to Lyon and eventually to the Calder Plaza. At the Calder Plaza several of the march organizers spoke about how they were just so tired of the way that black people were being treated, they were tired of living in a world where black bodies are disposable and where black lives don’t seem to matter. One black mother spoke and then talked about her son who was recently beaten by the GRPD. You can see a photo here below of her son. She fought through tears talking about her son and his future aspirations, only to feel anger and rage at a system that brutalizedher son.
At this point, one of the people doing crowd safety had come to tell everyone that there were still hundreds of people in front of the GRPD headquarters and that things were getting tense. Several of those who were at Calder Plaza, then went back to the police station to see whatwas happening.
When we got back to the GRPD headquarters (around 7:30pm), there were still hundreds of people in front of the building. However, after maybe 10 minutes, lots of people began to move away from the police station, back towards Rosa Parks Circle. The entire stretch of Monroe Center was filled with people who had come to say to the city, Stop Killing Black People! The air was electric and filled with anger. It is no surprise then that things escalated later that night. I was not there, so I do not want to speculate on what happened. However, I do think it is important that people, especially white people, stop with all the complaints and questions about property destruction. We as White people have no understanding of what it means to be black in America. We do not know what it is like to be terrorized every day by police and the larger systems of White Supremacy. The commercial news media has already made the narrative about what happened yesterday about property destruction. It is critical at this point that we make the voices of black people central to any conversation we have about what happened yesterday. We need to shut up about property destruction and listen to the lived experience of black people. We need to say their names – Breanna Taylor, George Floyd and the countless number of black people who have been murdered by cops! SAY THEIR NAME!1 Comment
from → Indy News
GR RAPID RESPONSE TO ICE BEGINS CAMPAIGN TO GET MORE FAITH COMMUNITIES TO DECLARE THEMSELVES A SANCTUARY FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTSMay 28, 2020
tags: GR Rapid Response to ICE , sanctuary churchesin Kent County
, sanctuary
for undocumented immigrants, the
faith community and sanctuary by Jeff Smith (GRIID)In
March of 2018
,
a UCC church, Joy Like a River, declared itself a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. At that event, there were several dozen area religious leaders who came in support of that declaration. This declaration of sanctuary was the first time that someone has become a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, since the Koinonia House did it in 1986 in Grand Rapids.
However, Joy Like a River is the only faith community that has publicly declared themselves as a sanctuary, in a region of the state that is known for being deeply religious. There are an estimated 800 churches in Kent County, which means that only 1 out of 800 is willing to put faith into action on behalf of undocumented immigrants. This reality has led the grassroots group, GR Rapid Response to ICE, to begin a campaign to encourage more faith communities to declare themselves as sanctuary. This campaign is centered around the 800 to 1 ratio of churches to sanctuaries in this community. We spoke with Karen Meyers, one of the volunteer organizers with GR Rapid Response to ICE about the campaign. GRIID – How do you react to the fact that only 1 church in the Grand Rapids area is willing to be a sanctuary? Karen – My reaction is some surprise, as well as disappointment and anger. Grand Rapids is almost jokingly known for its density of churches, and you don’t have to spend much time here before someone talks to you about their faith. In a city with so many Catholic churches as well as a large, vibrant immigrant community (many of whom are Catholic), it seems only natural that churches–particularly Catholic churches and other Christian churches that profess to do as Jesus did–would step up to offer sanctuary to immigrants in danger. The Catholic church has been pretty awful in many respects, but it also has a tradition of participating in peace and justicemovements.
I’m not totally surprised that there aren’t more sanctuary churches in Grand Rapids, however. I’ve come to realize that West Michigan Nice can mean that you preach kindness and love, but putting those words into action isn’t always done. GRIID – GR Rapid Response approached the Catholic Diocese back in March, wanting to talk about offering Sanctuary and other support for undocumented immigrants. What was their reaction?Karen
– The diocese initially responded and suggested a meeting date of May 1, which at best betrays a cluelessness on their part about the community, or at worst, is an intentional insult. May 1 is May Day, and has been the annual date of the Día Sin Inmigrantes/Day Without Immigrants march. We reminded the diocese of that and suggested a better date, but despite multiple attempts at contact on our part, have not heard back from them again. GRIID – What message do you think it sends to the undocumented community for faith communities to declare themselves a sanctuary? I think it tells them that they are welcome here. That they are valued, respected human beings, who deserve to live and enjoy happiness and safety together with their families and not separated from them, just as we do. That people have the right to cross borders (borders that once crossed them), in order to make a new life for themselves or to flee the dangerous conditions in their countries that the US has had a hand in creating. For those interested exploring the possibility of their faith community becoming a sanctuary and what that entails, you can contact GR Rapid Response to ICE at info@grrapidresponsetoice.org or leave a message on their Facebook page.
Leave a comment
from → Indy News
WHITE PEOPLE WITH GUNS TO HOST ANOTHER PROTEST AT THE CAPITOL IN LANSING ON MAY 31STMay 27, 2020
tags: anti-lockdown protest in Lansing, Michigan
United for Liberty
, white protesters
with guns
by Jeff Smith (GRIID)The
group that has been organizing anti-lockdown protests in Lansing, will be hosting another demonstration at the Capitol on Sunday, May 31st. Billed as Sunday Funday, Michigan United for Liberty is hosting a demonstration in defiance of the Stay-at-Home orders, this time with the focus being on venders who are currently not allowed to be open. _JOIN US FOR A CELEBRATION OF OUR FREEDOM AND A DIRECT ACTION TO RESTORE MICHIGAN BY COMING TO THE CAPITOL TO ENGAGE IN THE GREAT AMERICAN TRADITION OF FREE ENTERPRISE._ According to their Press Releasefor the
event, the event will feature food, live music, and vendors, including arts and crafts, beauticians, massage therapy and more. _“Our previous Capitol demonstrations have thoroughly made the point that the people of Michigan are fed up with the governor’s lockdown orders and will not be intimidated by her empty threats. Now it’s time to strike a more positive tone, to celebrate our constitutional rights, not just by exercising our freedom of speech and assembly, but our fundamental right to the pursuit of happiness by earning a living,” explained organizer Jenny Darling. “It’s long past time to re-open Michigan, and we are going to lead by example.”_ I think most people are aware of how small businesses are being impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, but this protest on Sunday doesn’t really have much to do with supporting small businesses. Here is our take on what the Michigan United for Liberty demonstration is reallyabout:
* It’s about White people being upset that in the midst of a pandemic their ability to do whatever the hell they want has been limited…..and that’s just not very American. * It’s about White people with guns knowing that they will not be subjected to state violence or state repression, thus providing the world with yet another example of how White Privilege and WhiteSupremacy works.
* It’s about how these White people will _NEVER_ be on the streets or organizing against cops killing black people, ICE agents arresting and detaining immigrants, religious groups policing queer and trans people or how capitalism is killing the planet. * It’s about how these White people are really distracting us from paying attention to how the Billionaire class – Bezos, Zuckerberg, DeVos, Meijer – are getting the federal government to re-direct more public money into their hands, and state governments to push policies they will benefit from.
* It’s about how these White people, who are using this opportunity to blame Gov. Whitmer for everything, while rallying other White people to support Trump.Leave a comment
from → Indy News
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