[ [link removed] ][IMG]

John,

Last year, the Michigan state legislature passed voter suppression bills
aimed at decreasing Black voter turnout and robbing our communities of the
chance to make our political voices heard.^1 While Michigan Governor
Gretchen Whitmer intervened and vetoed these anti-voter bills, an
extremist initiative—known as “Secure MI Vote”—submitted a petition last
month to override this executive decision and codify voter suppression
into law.^2 Now, Black Michiganders could soon encounter stricter voter
identification requirements that would make in-person and absentee voting
extremely difficult. 

In 2021, General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra once called the right to vote
“the most precious element of a democracy.”^3 But more recent estimates
indicate that GM and Ford have contributed nearly $444,000 combined to the
lawmakers behind the Secure MI Vote initiative and other voter suppression
efforts.^4 So, John, it’s clear that these corporations are
playing both sides and giving a well-funded pass to extremist politicians
intent on undermining our voting rights.

[ [link removed] ]We cannot allow these corporations to sponsor attacks on Black
Michiganders! Support Color Of Change and Community Change Action’s
campaign to #DefendBlackVoters.

[ [link removed] ] DEMAND THAT GENERAL MOTORS & FORD STOP BANKROLLING THE ATTACK ON OUR
VOTING RIGHTS! 

But, John, this isn’t just a Michigan problem. Nine of the past
11 presidential elections, going back to 1980, have spurred voter
suppression efforts as extreme as that of Michigan. And if we don’t send a
message to corporations and right-wing conservatives that we will defend
Black voters no matter what, decades of progress on voting rights in
Michigan and across the country could be soon rolled back—to the detriment
of our communities and our democracy. 

Voter suppression laws have grave consequences. Strict voter ID
requirements reduce Black voter turnout, as Black and low-income folks are
less likely to have access to a photo ID and more likely to be carded at
the polls.^5 What this means, John, is that Black people are
denied the opportunity to not only participate in the democratic process
but win political outcomes that would drastically improve our lives,
like: 

* The election of state’s attorneys who would prosecute abusive police
officers. 
* The passage of statewide ballot initiatives that would increase public
school funding. 
* The election of state lawmakers who would fight for the expansion of
direct cash relief. 

[ [link removed] ]Ultimately, the attack on voting rights is an attack on our
livelihoods. It’s time that General Motors and Ford stop bankrolling
anti-voter lawmakers and groups!

[ [link removed] ]TAKE ACTION

Until justice is real,

The Color Of Change Team 

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References: 

 1. “Summary of Bills that Restrict Voting Rights and Harm Elections,”
State of Michigan Secretary of State, April 21, 2021,
[ [link removed] ][link removed] 
 2. Alyssa Burr, “Michigan voter ID initiative submits 500k signatures too
late for election,” M Live, July 29, 2022,
[ [link removed] ][link removed] 
 3. “Michigan companies can’t say that Black Lives Matter and then support
an attack on Black voters,” Defend Black Voters Coalition, (n.d.),
[ [link removed] ]www.defendblackvoters.org. 
 4.  “Core Targets,” Community Change Action, (n.d.),
[ [link removed] ][link removed] Judd Legum, Tesnim Zekeria,
and Rebecca Crosby, “GM said it was a champion for voting rights, sent
125k to GOP group pushing voter suppression,” Popular Information,
August 5, 2021,
[ [link removed] ][link removed] 
 5. Forrest Wickman, “Why do many minorities lack ID?” Slate, August 21,
2022,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]



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