Michigan businessman’s shaming of Republicans who blocked vote certification goes viral
Officials backtracked after fiery attacks and changed their decision
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Video of a Michigan businessman shaming two Republicans who blocked certification of votes in the Detroit area has gone viral.
Ned Staebler was celebrated on social media for warning the two members of the Wayne County Board of canvassers “how history will judge them.”
The two officials, who are both white, had originally voted to block the certification of votes before backtracking and allowing the board to unanimously certify the results from Michigan’s biggest county.
Both Republicans had suggested not certifying those votes from the Detroit area of the county, which is predominantly Black.
“I just want to let you know that the Trump stink, the stain of racism that you, William Hartmann and Monica Palmer, have just covered yourself in is going to follow you throughout history,” said Mr Staebler in a video conferencing call.
And he told the pair that their grandchildren would remember them “as Bull Connor or George Wallace,” two southern segregationists who opposed the Civil Rights movement.
“Monica Palmer and William Hartmann will forever be known in southeastern Michigan as two racists who did something so unprecedented that they disenfranchised hundreds of thousands of Black voters in the city of Detroit,” added Mr Staebler, who is vice president for economic development at Wayne State University.
President-elect Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump easily in Wayne County and by 146,000 votes across the state.
Republicans had filed a string of lawsuits claiming fraud during the counting of absentee ballots in Detroit but it was thrown out by two judges for lack of evidence.
The initial move by the two board members was condemned by Democrats and observers as an attempt to undermine a free and fair election.
Their actions came against the backdrop of outgoing president Donald Trump making unfounded accusation of ballot tampering and voter fraud in the battleground states he lost to Mr Biden.
Mr Trump has lost a string of election lawsuits in states like Pennsylvania and Arizona and cybersecurity experts at the Department of Homeland Security described it as the most "secure election in American history."
“Just know when you try to sleep tonight that millions of people around the world now on Twitter know the name Monica Palmer and William Hartmann as two people completely racist and without an understanding of what integrity means or a shred of human decency,” added Mr Staebler.
“The law isn’t on your side, history won’t be on your side, your conscience will not be on your side.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments