West Michigan Far Right Watch for the week of December 29 – January 5 : Police apologists, Public School Conspiracy theories and Far Right views of freedom

Welcome to the next installment of West Michigan Far Right Watch, where we keep tabs on the far right in this area and provide a summary of what they are up to and what kind of messages they are promoting in this community. As a matter of clarification, when we say the Far Right, we mean those in the streets who fight to defend White Supremacy, those who promote far right ideology, and those with political and economic power.

We have three examples for this installment. The first one comes to us from the police apologist group, Voice for the Badge. After MLive reported that the suspension of GRPD officer VanderKooi was overturned by an unsourced arbitrator, Voice for the Badge posted the following ramblings on their Facebook page on December 31st. 

WOW GRPD WE FINALLY WIN ONE!!

Captain Curt Vandercooi -exemplary GRPD officer for 40 years/highly respected by citizens and peers has been vindicated. IMPARCIAL arbitrator determined-there was not just cause for the disciplinary action that Captain Vandercooi received.  So he was proactive in addressing a 100% legitimate concern in regards to potential domestic terrorism.  Turned out the gentleman wasn’t but what if he was??? Think about it.

The Civilian {{with the exception of a couple} Board voted for his dismissal {with the exception of a couple}.  As proven it was a horrible decision and what should be embarrassing—but then again the civilian boards job is to critique our PD. Another layer of b.s. for our PD.  Personally I think the civilian board is worthless especially since we added the position of Oversight of Police and Fire–yea OK -I’m still trying to figure out what Brandon Davis does. At least the civilian board works for free but then again I would pay to have an impartial board  or better yet the elimination of this board.

Remember they damn near ruined a great police officers career and reputation. They should be ashamed.

We have become accustomed to these kinds of posts from the VFB, since they defend the GRPD no matter what kind of harm they do in the community, especially the harm they do to Black people and immigrants.

Our second example today, comes to us from the American Patriot Council, where co-founder Jason Howland decides to make a video while he is driving, a video that presents all sorts of conspiracy theories and misinformation about public schools. In this 15 minute video, Howland claims that children can’t spread COVID, that school milages are unconstitutional and that public school teachers are indoctrinated children.

Our last example is from the Far Right Think Tank, the Acton Institute. In an article posted on December 31st, the editor of Acton’s journal Religion & Liberty, posted an article about the state of freedom in the world. His primary sources for determining freedom are the Cato Institute, which was founded by the Koch Brothers, and the Fraser Institute, which also receives funding from the Koch Brothers, is a member of the right wing State Policy Network and is a known climate denier.

The Acton Institute article also takes an opportunity to remind their readers that the rebellions after the public lynching of George Floyd hurt poor & minority communities, and that the police were the victims of rioters. Of course, the Acton writer doesn’t even mention George Floyd or the many other Black people who were murdered and brutalized by police across the country. Such commentary, is consistent with what the Acton Institute has posted in recent years.