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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

Midland GOP precinct delegate dresses in his KKK robes the day after the election

By Todd A. Heywood | 11.10.08 | 11:54 am

 

GOP precinct delegate Randy Gray of Midland, Mich. (photo: OurMidland.com)

GOP precinct delegate Randy Gray of Midland, Mich. (photo: OurMidland.com)

Michigan Messenger broke the story Oct. 1 that at least two Michigan GOP precinct delegates had ties to white supremacists. In the story, Michigan Messenger reported that Randy Gray, of Midland, was a self-avowed member of the Knights of the Klu Klux Klan, and Midland GOP chairwoman Diane Bristol had this to say about that:

 

“If, in fact, he’s associated with the KKK, [then] yes, it troubles me.”

An image of Gray has now surfaced in the Midland Daily News (online edition at OurMidland.com). The newspaper said the image shows Gray, 30, protesting the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. And to top it off, Gray is dressed in his KKK robes while standing at a busy intersection in Midland. His protest was held in front of Garber Chevrolet at the corner of Eastman Avenue and Saginaw Road in Midland and lasted 15 or 20 minutes.

Police told the Midland Daily News that Gray was exercising his First Amendment rights. What was Gray’s protest about?

“I feel white people feel more oppressed,” he said. “We’re basically told as white people we can’t have any organizations. We’re ruled by communists.

“It’s not just about Barack Obama. It goes deeper than that.”

According to the Midland Daily News report, Gray then went on to say the election of Obama to the presidency was the impetus for him to make the walk on Wednesday. The report fails to note that Gray is Michigan GOP precinct delegate for Midland.

Gray was one of three candidates who ran unopposed for three open delegate seats in Midland in the Republican Aug. 5 primary. As a precinct delegate, Gray serves a two-year term and is expected to attend all state Republican conventions and to run campaign activities in the Saginaw-area precinct for Republican candidates.

At the time of Gray’s primary victory for the delegate seat, Bristol told Michigan Messenger:

When asked if the local party knew about Gray’s candidacy, she said, “He completed the valid application. Neither I nor any one in the Republican Party can control who runs or who gets voted for.” She added, “He has the right to run. We have no control over the election process.”

The other Michigan GOP precinct delegate mentioned in Michigan Messenger’s Oct. 1 story was Kyle Bristow, the former chair of Young Americans for Freedom at Michigan State University. Bristow, who is now acting as a spokesperson for MSU YAF, a hate group recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center, posted the following on the group’s blog the day after the election:

People have asked me if there is still hope left for freedom in our country, especially now that a socialist, Islamic negro has been elected president, and I proclaim, “Yes there is!”

Bristow then proceeds to outline a call for revolution, noting the rise of Gen. Francisco Franco in Spain during the 1930s, and then quoting Thomas Jefferson’s famous quote about revolution being necessary from time to time.

Calls to Midland GOP Chair Diane Bristol concerning Gray’s KKK-robed protest in Midland last week were not returned Sunday.

Comments

  • Pingback: Midland MI GOP Delegate Dresses in Klan Robes to Protest Obama Election « The Central Tabulator

  • geodesic

    Ahh… free speech.

    This will be the first in a long line of ignorance. Oh, and by the way, last time I checked it's not 1950 anymore… but some people sure act like it is.

    Welcome to the new O-merica. Get used to it hatemongers.

  • http://forceplanet.com Force

    It never ceases to amaze me how much Michigan resembles the deep south. There is such hatred and racism and homophobia just under the surface here. We moved here three years ago and I was appalled to hear neighbors using the 'n' word openly – and that is in the Ferndale area. I always had a high opinion of Michigan but that is changing rapidly. It seems a lot of people here have been taught that ignorance is to be worshipped.

    Evolve.

  • three_ides

    Racism is not the exclusive domain of the South. It is not, despite what the McCain campaign showcased, the exclusive domain of the basest of the Republican base. It is pervasive throughout Michigan (whose “blueness,” don't forget, comprises in part that uneasy demographic that the media refer to in code-speak as the “older white Democrat”); it is pervasive throughout the United States. Obama will be, among other things, a potent national symbol, but effecting real, lasting change has to happen on the local level. Racist neighbors? Talk to them. Racist city councilmen? Protest them. Silence and complacency are no longer options.

  • Pingback: Suing The Klan Into Oblivion | Oliver Willis

  • http://rainonlevs.livejournal.com/ KellyLogan

    I think that, as long as members of the KKK speak and act OPENLY, I have no problem with them running for or holding office. It's the secrecy that gives the worst elements of groups like this power.

    Let's put a stop to the secrecy, to the lies and to the covert actions and conspiracies. In the light of day, honest opinions based on fear and ignorance have little power; that's one of the powers of democracy.

  • kkaz

    A black person who has pride in their race is welcomed. A white person who has pride in thier race is a racist. I am very happy that the membership in Michigan is going up and dream of a day where we have Klansmen in every neighborhood.

  • kkaz

    A black person who has pride in their race is welcomed. A white person who has pride in thier race is a racist. I am very happy that the membership in Michigan is going up and dream of a day where we have Klansmen in every neighborhood.

  • kkaz

    A black person who has pride in their race is welcomed. A white person who has pride in thier race is a racist. I am very happy that the membership in Michigan is going up and dream of a day where we have Klansmen in every neighborhood.

  • TommyKnockerz

    I'm not saying that these Klan fools are right in any way, shape or form. I think most of them are only good at spewing Nazi rhetoric and making fools of themselves. I will say this though; I think that white people are tired of being held to a higher standard than non whites while non whites say they want “eqality”. For instance, blacks can say or do anything they want but then someone like Imus makes a relatively harmless statement and he's fired. Personally, I can't stand Imus but I have the freedom to NOT listen to him and he should have the Freedom of Speech. I love Oprah but I've heard her on at least two occasions speak about whites being unable to dance because of lack of rhythm. Both statements fairly harmless but the the white person suffers consequences while the black person isn't even reprimanded in ANY way. Blacks say “Black Power” and it's racial pride while whites say “White Power” and it's racism. I don't believe that blacks truly want equality because if we were truly 'equal' then they would be held responsible for their own actions and that's the LAST thing they want. If they were 'equal' then they would have to take responsibility for the demise of their communities, for the large numbers of blacks in gangs, for the large number of blacks in prison for murder for dealing drugs and the numerous other illegal activities they engage in. Do they really want equality???? NOPE!!!!

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_U2QEERGDKEN725GFDI6CHPPAZM Ikechukwu

      Name 1 time in the history of this nation a white man was forcibly taken from him homeland of europia. Then sent to America bound in chains in the bowels of a ship for months on end. Systematically seperated from his home, language, family, customs, and made to do all these sacred things to him the ethnic mans way. Forced to stay stupid by refusing him education, giving him no civil rights, or human rights for that matter. Then have acts of terrorism performed on him. How many white men had to suffer while his home was burned to the ground? How many white men had to watch his woman be raped in front of him before his own demise? How many white men were beaten mercilessly before being lynched from a noose tied in a rope hung from a tree? How many white men built small civilizations (towns) in the USA from the ground up, just to have it leveled by fire? How many white men were experimented on biologically by his government as a test study? How many white men had to serve in the military, being thrown without regard onto the front lines of battle as a sacrifice just so he could have a chance at a fair shot in society? How many white men had to demean themselves on television cause that was the only roles available to his race in hollywood? How many white men were ever pulled over by the police and beaten, sent to prison and had his woman sexually molested (raped)? How many white men were ever refused a job anywhere because he was white? How many white men were ever refused service anywhere because he was white? How many white men were ever afraid of going to a specific place anywhere because his was white? How many white men had his ideas stolen from him so the ethnic thief could go and become rich off his ideas and hard work all cause white men didn’t control all industies known to man? Anyway I know that you are but I hope you’re not an American. Cause saying all this worthless crap about, “well when blacks say it it’s all good, but if a white says it then it’s immoral” and so on. Whenever white people have suffered even 15% of what the black people have then maybe they can equate themselves to us. Maybe when black people begin committing even 10% of the unimaginable atrocities that the white man has committed against us. Then maybe whites can begin equating themselves to us. Maybe when the white man is actually oppressed (which if my calculations are right won’t be in this lifetime) they could possibly be considered to have the right to complain and equate themselves to the black man and the black plight in America. Notice the scenarios I painted in this reply are only things that the Black man has primarily suffered in America. My hands would cramp if I were to include the other Ethnic groups of this fine country. So study and make educated comments don’t just let your mouth run. You may end up sounding like an idiot. Which I’m saddened to inform you (not really) you heinously perpetrated in this comment you left. Have a blessed life whoever you are and BLACK POWER! WHITE POWER! HUMAN POWER!

  • TommyKnockerz

    I'm not saying that these Klan fools are right in any way, shape or form. I will say this though; I think that white people are tired of being held to a higher standard than non whites. For instance, blacks can say or do anything they want as far as what they say but then someone like Imus makes a relatively harmless statement and he's fired. Blacks say “Black Power” and it's racial pride and whites say “White Power” and it's racism. I don't believe that blacks truly want equality because if we were truly 'equal' then they would be held responsible for their own actions and that's the LAST thing they want. If they were 'equal' then they would have to take responsibility for the demise of their communities, for the large numbers of blacks in gangs, for the large number of blacks in prison for murder for dealing drugs and the numerous other illegal activities they engage in. Do they really want equality???? NOPE!!!!

  • Anonymous

    Aren’t we all the same when it comes down to it. We all our living people who deserve to be created equal. No matter what race we are we still have the same exact features… a beating heart and feelings. We are no better than the next guy. And Jesus created everyone, we are all his children no matter our color. it makes me mad that we treat people so horribly just by what happened in the 1950′s. If there was no such thing as racism or slavery back in the 1950′s no one would have a problem with each other. Why can’t we just except the fact there is more than one color on this planet. There are many amazing black people that changed many things like Martin Luther King Jr… and there is also many amazing white people that have done some great things…. it’s not a competition. We are all the same physically inside, it’s time to grow up and act like a person who has morals. Don’t judge someone based their color, base someone on their personal morals and what they choose is right or wrong. Remember this is my own opinion don’t tell me what to believe and I won’t tell you how to think. We are all equal in every way!! 

    <3 A White Girl ( I am no better than anyone else based on their color, I am just me)

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