DETROIT — The NAACP denounced a misinformation campaign that has been trying to deter Black voters in Detroit from voting by mail.
They called the campaign, created by an organization called Project 1599, “outrageous, illegal and an example of the divisive tactics that extremists will try to use to deter voters, particularly those from Black communities, from making their voices heard at the polls.”
The organization was founded by far-right conspiracy theorist Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman.
A robocall targeting Detroiters falsely states that "if you vote by mail, your personal information will be part of a public database that will be used to track down old warrants," and falsely adds that the CDC is even planning to track people for mandatory vaccines with mail-in voting.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson’s full statement:
“The NAACP condemns voter suppression in all its forms. Voting is a fundamental cornerstone of our democracy, and it is vital that our elected officials accurately represent our country. As COVID-19 continues to impact Black communities across Michigan at a disproportionate rate, the Black vote matters because our lives depend on it. The 2020 election will be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and we must not allow malicious actors to prey on people’s fears and rig our electoral system. The NAACP will continue to engage community members and volunteers in neighborhoods across Michigan, who are actively mobilizing, educating, and empowering Black voters to exercise their voting rights.”
