Palestine Solidarity Information, Analysis, Local Actions and Events for the week of May 5th
It has been roughly 7 months since the Israeli government began their most recent assault on Gaza and the West Bank. The retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, has escalated to what the international community has called genocide, therefore, GRIID will be providing weekly links to information and analysis that we think can better inform us of what is happening, along with the role that the US government is playing. We will also provide information on local events and actions that people can get involved in. All of this information is to provide people with the capacity of what Noam Chomsky refers to as, intellectual self-defense.
Information
Gaza’s new and terrifying reality
The Palestinian Resistance Isn’t a Monolith
How Extremists Became the New Face of Israel
What the Student Movement for a Free Palestine Teaches Us
Cable News Viewers Have a Skewed Attitude Toward Gaza War, Survey Finds
‘We Do Not Support’ ICC Probe of Israeli War Crimes in Gaza, Says White House
Last Night’s Palestine Crackdown Was Authoritarian
Analysis & History
JUDITH BUTLER WILL NOT CO-SIGN ISRAEL’S ALIBI FOR GENOCIDE
Local Events and Actions
Power the Palestine: Weekly Protest in Grand Rapids
Wednesday, May 8 from 12pm – 1pm, Monument Park
https://www.facebook.com/events/956092489355434?ref=newsfeed
Wednesday, May 8 at 6pm
Zionism and Local Policing
https://www.facebook.com/events/973132437497973?ref=newsfeed
Graphic used in this post is from https://visualizingpalestine.org/#visuals
This is the third and final article where we look at entities that are making substantial campaign contributions to people at the state level for the upcoming Primary Election in August and the November 2024 Election.
In the past week GRIID has looked at which candidates are receiving funding from the Grand Rapids Police Officers Association and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce PAC and what that means for policy issues in Grand Rapids and across the state. Today, I want to look at the Michigan Realtors PAC and the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County.
In 2022, GRIID noted that the Michigan Realtors PAC and the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County contributed tens of thousands of dollars to candidates with the intent of insuring that those who promote a market-driven housing framework will be able to maintain that, in light of the growing housing justice movement in West Michigan and across the state. Last fall, the Rent is Too Damn High Coalition brought out 500 people to protest the housing crisis in Michigan and to present a list of demands that certainly threaten a market-driven housing reality.
2024 Campaign Contributions from the Michigan Realtors PAC
According to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance data for this quarter, the Michigan Realtor’s PAC made 126 separate contributions. Here is a list of some of the larger contributions and contributions to West MI candidates:
- Michigan Senate Democratic Fund – $25,000
- Michigan House Democratic Fund – $25,000
- Senate Republican Campaign Committee MI – $15,000
- House Republican Campaign Committee MI – $15,000
- Michigan Forward Fund – $5,000
- Brinks Victory Fund – $2,500
- Kristian Grant – $1,000
- Grant Leadership Fund – $1,000
- Mark Huizenga – $1,000
- Bryan Posthumus – $1,000
- Albert Majority Fund – $1,000
- Carol Glanville – $1,000
All of this makes sense when you consider that the Democrats control the State Legislature, so naturally they would receive the highest amounts. It is also important to note that Rep. Kristian Grant is the Chair of the recently formed Housing Committee, which is why the Realtors PAC threw money at her.
2024 Campaign Contributions from the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County
The amounts that the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County are naturally smaller than the Realtor’s PAC, since they are primarily interested in influencing policy in Kent County. However, this year they are making contributions to candidates outside of the county, especially considering that issues like Rent Control and a Renters Bill of Rights are part of what the Rent is Too Damn High Coalition is pushing for.
According to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance data for this quarter, the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County made only 5 separate contributions.
- Michigan House Democratic Fund – $1,000
- Kristian Grant – $250
- Stefanie Chang – $250
- House Republican Campaign Committee – $250
- Sylvia Santana – $250
These numbers will go up before the August Primary and the November General Election, but again, it is clear that the campaign contributions from the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County are strategic and targeted. GRIID will certainly follow the money in the upcoming campaign finance reporting deadlines later this summer and fall, so that people can see how those with deep pockets are influencing public policy in Michigan.
Grand Rapids Area Tenants Union and Community Members Stand United Against Exploitative Landlords
Editor’s note: This article was written by Kellan Martin.
On April 30th at 6:00pm, dozens of community members along with organizers from the Grand Rapids Area Tenants Union joined Gretchen Statezni and Audrey Campbell to protest against the exploitative practices of their landlord, Josephine Cole.
Protesters gathered in front of Cole’s house and heard details of Cole’s exploitative “slumlord” actions. The conditions that both tenants face in their relationship with Cole include deliberate mishandling of paperwork, non-payment of utility bills, rent increases of over $6,600/year since 2020, and threats of eviction. These unfortunate situations and more have culminated into what is an exploitative relationship that Cole has with Statezni and Campbell.
Statezni noted to attendees that it is primarily rent price hikes that have caused the most amount of damage over the years. Methods of relief such as rental assistance cause more issues instead of help. Since rental assistance is usually provided under guidance and consent of the property owner, Cole knew about these new sources of income. Statezni recounted multiple instances of receiving rent increases from Cole just days after being granted rental assistance.
Protestors talked to people in the neighborhood where the landlord lived to broadcast the profit-mongering nature of Cole’s business practices. Chants of “Eviction is violence!” and “Rent control now!” rang through the suburban complex. After a while protestors were met with four police officers, contacted by residents of Cole’s household. The police and Cole ultimately left when they realized they could not legally stop members of the community calling out a property owner for their exploitative practices! By the time the protest ended, both renters voiced their concern about retaliation from Cole as it has happened in the past.
The conditions that Statezni and Campbell face are shared by almost every renter in the US. A capitalist system with a low home-ownership rate and, in the case of Michigan, no laws to control rent mean that every year large portions of the US population face the experience of seeing their greedy landlord’s leases in the mail that demand hundreds of dollars more per month of stolen income from renters.
Collective actions against landlords such as this one held by GRATU show people in need that they are not alone, and those in power that they cannot act with impunity and must face accountability for their violence. The struggle of tenants to build their collective power is therefore connected with the struggle for liberation of all oppressed people under capitalism.
If you are a renter and need support and solidarity from the Grand Rapids Area Tenants Union, you can contact them at gratunion@gmail.com. Tenants can also attend the next GRATU meeting, which will be held on Saturday, May 11 at 10am. Go to this link for location and other details.
Yesterday, during their annual May Day action, about 100 Movimiento Cosecha organizers and supporters came to the Lansing State Capital to demand driver’s licenses.
People came from different parts of Michigan and arrived in Lansing around 11:00am. The Cosecha action began in front of the State Capital, with some announcements and to inform participants of what would be happening throughout the day.
From the very beginning the energy was high, the banners and signs were plenty and the bi-lingual chants were passionate.
First, the roughly 100 participants marched down Michigan Street, passed the Lansing Police Station and around the roundabout. However, instead of just walking around the big traffic circle, those holding banners were strategically placed at all four exits of the roundabout, which prevented vehicles from entering. This allowed the rest of the marchers to take the streets for the next half hour, which included chants and caused traffic to back up, or in some cases, motorists just turned around and went in the opposite direction. Interestingly enough, the police didn’t even bother to show up and force the marchers off the street.
Eventually, the Cosecha May Day action moved back towards the State Capital, where people re-grouped in front of the Capital steps. At this point several Cosecha organizers spoke about their work and the campaign to win driver’s licenses. Cosecha organizers then invited other organizations to speak about their work and the importance of building cross-movement solidarity, which was delightful to witness.
After about 30 minutes, Cosecha organizers then explained the next part of their May Day action, which was to go up to the 3rd floor about the same time that the Michigan State House of Representatives would be starting a session.
Participants then entered the State Capital one at a time, since the Capital Police require everyone to go through metal detectors. Once we were all in the rotunda area, people began walking up the steps to the 3rd floor where the State House session was about to start.
The area outside of the State House chambers is not terribly spacious, but about 75 people were packed into that space, chanting and disrupting the proceedings. Members of the State House and some of their staffers had to weave through the crowd of Cosecha activists and supporters, while other politicians decided to take pictures of those protesting.
All of this was very familiar, since Movimiento Cosecha has utilized very similar tactics in previous protests at the State Capital. What was noticeably different about yesterday’s action was what people were chanting. People were chanting the phrase, No Licencias, No voto!, meaning if you (elected state officials) don’t pass the driver’s licenses bill, we will not be voting for you! Movimiento Cosecha organizers had made up enough patches for everyone to pin on their shirts, with some in Spanish and others in English. In fact, one Cosecha organizer has shared with me that they will likely follow the model of the uncommitted vote in the upcoming August Primary Election, where people will withhold their vote for State Representatives if they do not pass the Driver’s Licenses bill. As a Cosecha organizer said, “we are leveraging out vote to make demands of politicians. If they want us to vote for them, then they need to give us what we have been demanding for years.”
After another 30-40 minutes those who came to the Cosecha May Day action then descended back down to the ground floor of the State Capital and went outside to share refreshments that had been prepared for them.
The 100 or so immigrant justice activists sat on the grass, shared food, shared laughter and shared affirmations about what the day had meant to them. A few Cosecha organizers then used their portable sound system to offer thanks and gratitude to those who came out to the annual May Day action and those who contributed in a myriad of ways. The Cosecha May Action 2024 action most definitely demonstrated the power of organized people and the hopefulness of constant struggle. Once again, I felt a sense of pride to be part of this movement.
Kent County residents rally against Democratic Party fundraiser, condemn complicity in Gaza genocide
GRIID is re-posting a statement from Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids.
Residents Temporarily Occupy Stairwell at Democratic Fundraiser, Face Physical Assaults from Party Donors
GRAND RAPIDS – On Saturday, April 27, over a hundred Kent County residents gathered at the Kent County Democrats Spring Gala fundraiser at the Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids to protest the ongoing violence in Gaza and the Democrats’ support for Israel and U.S. warmongering.
Inside the venue, a dozen community members chanted for a free Palestine and an end to the occupation, temporarily blocking access to the main stairwell and disrupting the registration process. In response, Kent County Democrats reacted with physical aggression, pushing and grabbing peaceful protestors. One young community member had her hijab pulled, while another organizer was shoved against a wall and pushed into a heavy glass door. The violence perpetrated by institutionalized Democrats onto young peaceful activists is abhorrent and telling of the underlying values system that keeps them funding the genocide in Gaza.
Despite these physical assaults, the anti-apartheid protesters held strong, recited chants and relayed the message that the Democrats are failing their constituents. In the 2024 presidential primary, Grand Rapids voted uncommitted by 17%, and Kent County voted uncommitted by 13.7% in protest against Biden’s involvement in the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Democrats–especially Congresswoman Hillary Scholten–should take note of these figures that reflect the support for Palestine and for an end to U.S. aid to Israel in Kent County, a swing-county and bellwether county for the whole nation.
The disruption at the Spring Gala lasted over 45 minutes, delaying registrations and amplifying their voices until the Grand Rapids police dispersed the crowd. Despite attempts to intimidate, community members stood by their anti-colonialist values, demonstrating their refusal to comply with violence by the ruling class.
Thankfully, there were no arrests, but this demonstration highlighted two crucial points: the need for unwavering solidarity to ensure community safety when facing the police and the pervasive white supremacy culture within the GRPD, leading to unequal treatment of Black and Brown organizers and community members.
While several organizers present were white, shielding the demonstration from harsher police repression, the disparity in treatment is stark, as evidenced by the political repression faced by Black and Brown comrades, such as the ongoing incident of a protester facing felony charges for amplifying their voice at a protest against the violence and murders that the police has committed in our city and wider community.
Protesting is not a crime, and all charges must be dropped. We stand with our comrades against police brutality and the heinous murders of Patrick Lyoya and Samuel “SD” Sterling. We echo the demand by the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression for community control of the police.
As our conditions worsen, it is crucial to expose the inhumanity within our system and organize to improve the lives of our community members. That is why Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids has joined the many organizations, unions, and grassroots movements nationwide calling for a march on both the Republican and Democratic National Convention to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel, freedom for Palestine, community control of the police, advancement on immigrant rights, and to oppose the right-wing policies both parties have embraced at the expense of our communities.
Representatives of members of the Coalition to March on the DNC speaking at a press conference in Chicago on April 13, 2024
Graphic for the anti-war contingent for the March on the RNC
PSGR is organizing a contingent to march on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15 and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19.
“The genocide in Gaza is waking people up to how the system of electoral politics in the United States works and who it’s really meant to serve,” says organizer Emerson Wolfe. “There is no lesser of two evils when they work together to fund a genocide.”
GRIID interview with Indigenous youth organizer on the May 5th Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Rally
Yesterday I had the pleasure of interviewing this amazing Indigenous youth organizer, who spoke with me about the upcoming May 5th Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Rally to be held on the Blue Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids, beginning at 4pm.
The flyer you see here on the right was created by the same young woman who is featured in the interview. Here are the questions I asked her. In this 8 minute interview, I think you will be impressed and inspired by the words this young woman shared.
- Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what the MMIP rally is all about?
- When did you decide that you wanted to be involved in this issue…and why?
- It seems that too often Indigenous issues don’t get the attention that other issues do. Why is it important for the larger community to take action on this issue?
- What do you think are the reasons why some many Indigenous women are are disappearing and how is it related Settler colonialism?
- I understand that you made the flyer for this rally, which will be included in my post, but can you say something about the importance of art in activism?
- What message(s) do you have for the people who will be watching this video?
The growing student-led Palestine solidarity movement is an inspiring thing to see as it unfolds. Along with lots of faculty and staff, college students are showing the rest of us tremendous courage and conviction for their willingness to stand up against US complicity in Israel’s genocide and to the police repression that more and more campuses are experiencing.
Just yesterday, police abused and arrested 40 pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Texas at Austin. After what had happened at Colombia, the students across the country have been mobilizing to engage in their own encampments to not only protest the role that the US government is playing in Israel’s genocide, but in many cases to demand that their university or college divest from the decades-long Israeli occupation and Israeli Apartheid. Students are once again showing the rest of us how to be courageous in the face of US imperialism.
Unfortunately, not everyone is inspired by the courage of college students across the country. West Michigan’s very own Representative Hillary Scholten recently posted on her weekly newsletter the following statement:
“I’m sure many of you have seen the ongoing protests happening on college and university campuses across the country right now. The right to free speech and protest is fundamental, but far too many of these protests have crossed the line into harassment, intimidation, and discriminatory anti-semitism. Colleges and universities do not have enough clear guidance on what does and does not cross the line into antisemitism– which has put Jewish students at risk and at the same time, jeopardizes legitimate free speech. Students have the right to peacefully protest, but antisemitism is never –and never will be– tolerated.
As others rushed to the cameras, I got to work on solutions. This week, my Republican colleague and fellow midwesterner Rep. Rudy Yakym from Indiana and I championed our new bill, the PROTECT Jewish Students and Faculty Act, to require colleges and universities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s official working definition of antisemitism in student and faculty codes of conduct as a condition of receiving Title IV federal funds for financial aid. This way, we’re protecting students and faculty and ensuring that institutions of higher education can be safe spaces of learning and free expression for all.”
Rep. Scholten, the so-called liberal, once again is demonstrating her allegiance to US Imperialism, to Zionism and her commitment to the repression of free speech. Notice that the Congresswoman provides no evidence of antisemitism. You just have to invoke it to make it a fact, just like Zionists preach. On top of the unsubstantiated claim of antisemitism, Rep. Scholten takes it one step further by partnering with a Republican from Indiana to introduce legislation that in reality is meant to further silence critics of Israel and US policies that support Israel. However, this might be a good time to point out why Rep. Hillary Scholten is on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of justice.
- US students and faculty are organizing to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians and against the US-funded Israeli genocide that has already killed 35,000 Palestinians.
- Many of the campus protests against the Israeli genocide are being led by Jewish students and faculty.
- US students who are organizing encampments across the country are following in the same tradition as previous movements like the Civil Rights Movement, the anti-Vietnam and anti-Iraq War Movements, the Climate Justice Movement, and the South African anti-Apartheid Movement, just to name a few.
- US students and faculty are exposing the political and economic commitment that Higher Education has to conformity, especially when it comes to US foreign policy and Israel.
- US students and faculty are also exposing how the police state functions in the US, especially when university trustees and university donors are pressuring campuses to actively suppress this movement.
Instead, what Rep. Hillary Scholten is doing is taken right from the Zionist playbook to blame the victim or anybody else, but never Israel. Scholten is one of 9 co-sponsors of H.R. 7478, which was introduced by Rep. Rudy Yakym from Indiana. Scholten is only one of two Democrats who cosponsored this shitty piece of legislation that includes the likes of Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York. Stefanik has been the person leading the charge to discredit universities who allow Palestine Solidarity actions or Middle East Studies that question Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land.
If Rep. Hillary Scholten was on the right side of history, she would recognize a few things about what she is enabling and complicit in:
The McCarthyist Attack on Gaza Protests Threatens Free Thought for All
GAZA WAR, COLLEGE CAMPUSES BECOME FREE SPEECH “TESTING GROUND”
Israel Has Formed a Task Force to Carry Out Covert Campaigns at US Universities
It’s bad enough that Rep. Scholten has consistently voted to send billions of dollars in US military aid to unconditionally support Israel and to participate in an AIPAC funded trip to Israel last year, she now wants to use a right-wing tactic to silence college students across the US for courageously denouncing genocide. Rep. Scholten’s legacy as a member of Congress will be that she defended genocide and the suppression of those who opposed genocide.
Follow the Money: Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce campaign contributions buys political allegiance from both parties in Kent County
It’s no surprise that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce contributes to political candidates, something they have been doing for a very long time.
According to the State of Michigan’s campaign finance records for the most recent quarterly reporting, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee contributed $20,250 to 24 different candidates and political action committees.
The largest recipients in the most recent campaign finance reporting for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce are:
- Kent County Commissioner Stan Stek – $5,000
- Kent County Commissioner Dan Burrill – $5,000
- Posthum Majority Fund – $2,500
- Senate Republican Campaign Committee – $1,000
- MI Forward Fund – $500
- Kent County Commissioner Jennifer Merchant – $500
- House Republican Campaign Committee – $500
- Kent County Commissioner Dave Hildenbrand – $500
- Kent County Commissioner Ben Greene – $500
- Kent County Commissioner Lindsey Thiel – $500
The names on this list are not surprising, considering that they are all Republican, except for the MI Forward Fund, which contributes to both Democrats and Republicans. I say this is not surprising, since the GOP not only loves Capitalism, but hates labor unions.
GR Chamber of Commerce plays both sides of the aisle
However, an equal amount of the rest of the candidates and PACs that received lesser amounts of campaign contributions in the most recent political finance reporting records are Democrats.
- Kent County Commissioner Carol Hennessy – $250 – Democrat
- State Representative Matt Hall – $250 – Republican
- Kent County Commissioner Monica Sparks – $250 – Democrat
- Kent County Commissioner Tony Baker – $250 – Democrat
- Kent County Commissioner Lisa Oliver King – $250 – Democrat
- Kent County Commissioner Michelle McCloud – $250 – Democrat
- VanWoerkom Solutions PAC – $250 – Republican
- State Representative Pat Outman – $250 – Republican
- Victory Values Fund – $250 – Republican
- Kent County Commissioner Melissa LaGrand – $250 – Democrat
- State Representative Luke Meerman – $250 – Republican
- State Representative Bryan Postumus – $250 – Republican
- State Representative Bradley Slagh – $250 – Republican
- State Representative Kristian Grant – $250 – Democrat
So, why would the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce make campaign contributions to Democrats? It could be that Democrats are also committed to the economic system of Capitalism, or it could be that these Democrats represent urban districts, which in Kent County are generally held by Democrats. What is clear is the fact that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce likes to hedge their bets and fund both sides, since it means they will have access and likely political allegiance from candidates they contribute to.
The bigger question is why would Democrats take money from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce? The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce supports all the so-called Transformational Projects in downtown GR – the Amphitheater, the Soccer Stadium, the proposed Aquarium, etc – all of which rely on lots of public funding and only lines the pockets of the Capitalist Class in this city. The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce got the City of Grand Rapids to adopt ordinances that essentially criminalized the unhoused last year. Plus, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce gives the bulk of their campaign contributions to Republicans, which are the sworn enemy of the Democrats, right?
I think the Democrats should return the campaign contributions from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, and send it with a note saying, “we don’t take money from organizations that oppose raising the minimum wage, deny climate change, always work to undermine organized labor and promotes neoliberal economic policies.”
There is no fair housing in Grand Rapids, because there is no fair judicial system: Housing Justice was the focus of Sunday’s events
On Sunday, April 28th, there were two events in Grand Rapids that centered on Housing Justice. There was a rally organized by the group Nation Outside that was pushing legislation that would not create barriers for the formerly incarcerated to access housing, which was followed by a Michigan Civil Right Commission public hearing on housing discrimination.
What was billed as a rally was more of a Press Conference hosted by Nation Outside, which calls itself the voice of the formerly incarcerated. There were a few politicians that spoke, but the most impactful comments came from two members of Nation Outside, pictured here above. Both spoke about their experience of being discriminated against by landlords and property management companies, despite the fact that they served time. They presented those at the Press Conference with information about HB 4878, which would prohibit landlords from asking people about their criminal history. HB 4878 was introduced last year, but it needs to get passed this year before the Democrats could possibly lose control of the State Legislature.
The second event, which was held at the Community Transformation Center, was organized by the Michigan Civil Right Commission. Their event was a public hearing that allowed people to talk about their experience of being discriminated against while seeking or staying in housing. Unfortunately, this event was sparsely attended, as you can see in the picture here below, with lots of empty seats.
There were a number of people representing housing organizations that spoke to the panel of Michigan Civil Rights Commissioners, groups such as the NAACP, the FAIR Housing Center of West MI, Farmworker Legal Services, Linc Up, Nation Outside and the Grand Rapids Area Tenant Union. All of those groups spoke about the work they do around housing justice along with providing concrete examples of the struggles that people have to access fair housing.
However, the most powerful testimony came from people who are currently being discriminated against around housing, along with some powerful analysis of why there is limited or little housing justice in the Grand Rapids area.
There was a man who lives in a mobil park home with his elderly mother who stated that they were facing eviction from the mobil home park. The company that bought the mobil home park in recent years had jacked up the cost of renting space in the mobil home park. Another man who took a bus from Flint, Michigan to speak at the hearing, talked about how he has experienced numerous types of discrimination, but the housing discrimination has been the worst, because he has a criminal background and because he is a Black man.
Then there was testimony from an older African American woman who had stayed in one of Degage’s shelter’s and how difficult it was for her with a fixed income to access housing. She said she has been in a fight for the past 2 years just to be able to stay in the place she now lives. There was also a woman who was hearing impaired who communicated how she could not get her landlord to provide basic services to make it easier to communicate with the landlord or receive messages from anyone who wanted to visit or companies that wanted to make a delivery to her apartment.
There were several other area residents who spoke about the fact that the cost of rent in this city is unattainable for most people. Class and income discrimination were the most dominant theme regarding housing discrimination.
Another African American woman began her comments by asking the Michigan Civil Rights Commissioners, “what have they done lately,” referring to whether or not the commission has actually changed policies that would benefit the most vulnerable in this city and across Michigan.
Maybe the most powerful testimony came from an African America man who was born and raised in Grand Rapids. He said, “There is no fair housing in GR, because there is no fair judicial system.” He was kicked out of where he was living and then took the case to court, but the courts dismissed the case, partly because he believed that the landlord at a friendly relationship with the judge who presided over his case.
A coupe of final observations were that not one single politician bothered to come to the public hearing to listen to people talk about being discriminated against, about not being able to afford rental costs, along with the constant threat of eviction. There was one staff person representing State Rep. Glandville, but refusal to make the public hearing a priority speaks volume about what politicians value, which is not really listening to the struggles of people who are constantly housing insecure. There was also no representation from groups like Housing Next, the GR Chamber of Commerce created group, which is the current media darling. Their absence is instructive, since it demonstrates their commitment to a market-driven housing system as opposed to housing justice.
As we have been documenting in recent years, the Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association, the GRPD union, doesn’t shy away from making campaign contributions to candidates that take a very strong pro-police stance.
In 2020, I posted an article looking at how many different local politicians had received funding from the GRPD union up until that point, with campaign contributions ranging from $200 – $5,000.
However, beginning in 2022, the amount of funding that the Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association was providing to candidates increased. The increase was no doubt a direct response to the increasing calls to defund the GRPD and hold them more accountable. In the 2022 election cycle, the GRPD union made $10,000 contributions to Drew Robbins, who was running for a seat in the 1st Ward. Robbins won that election because of the campaign contributions from the GRPD union and contributions from members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure.
So far in the 2024 election cycle, the Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association has made significant contributions to three candidates, according to State Campaign Finance records:
- $15,000 – Michael Maycroft for Sheriff in Ottawa County
- $12,500 – Dean Pacific for 1st Ward Grand Rapids City Commission
- $12,500 – John Krajewski for 3rd Ward Grand Rapids City Commission
These amounts are the largest for local candidates in the history of the Grand Rapids police union. If you are wondering why they did not contribute money to 2nd Ward candidates, it is partly because Mindy Ysasi is running uncontested and because Ysasi considered voting to reduce funding for the GRPD in 2020, even though she has approved the ever growing GRPD budget in each of the years she has served as the 2nd Ward City Commissioner.
For those who don’t support the GRPD and their continued repression against BIPOC people, immigrants, the poor and political dissidents, you might want to avoid voting for these candidates in 2024.
Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy 