Republicans Uses Robocalls to Intimidate Minority Voters
Robocalls targeting minorities in Michigan were traced to 2 Conservative / Republican operatives who were charged with intimidating voters
Michigan Attorney General Drops The Hammer On Conservative Activists Over Voter Intimidation Robocalls
Description from YouTube: “Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel talks with Rachel Maddow about filing felony charges against conservative activists Jack Burkman and David Wohl for allegedly sending thousands of intimidating robocalls with the intention of discouraging voters in a state Donald Trump won in 2016 by only 10,000 votes”. Aired on 10/01/2020.
FCC Brings The Hammer Down on Trump-Supporting Activists Over Racist Robocalls
Description from YouTube: “Two Trump-supporting conservative activists, Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman were charged with targeting tens of thousands of Black voters with robocalls meant to discourage them from voting by mail, and who were also flagged to the FCC, which responded with a recommendation of a fine of over five million dollars”.
Law Catches Up To 2020 Right-Wing Election Scammers As 2022 Sees New Intimidation Tactics
Rachel Maddow catches viewers up on the cases against right-wing political activists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman who tried to intimidate Black voters with a robocall ahead of the 2020 election, and looks at new right-wing voter intimidation tactics for the 2022 election that are already being taken to court.
Title from YouTube: “Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman indicted in Ohio for voter suppression”
Description from YouTube: “Right-wing political activists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman have been indicted in Ohio for a voter suppression scheme, after charges were already mounted against them in Michigan, officials announced Tuesday. Wohl, 22, and Burkman, 54, pleaded not guilty in the Michigan case earlier this month for allegedly making 67, 000 robocalls targeting majority black and urban areas discouraging people from voting by mail. The men made similar calls in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois.
At least 8, 100 of the calls were made to Cleveland and East Cleveland residents, Cuyahoga County Ohio prosecutors said. The calls warned that mail-in votes could make voters’ personal information available on a special database used by law enforcement to pursue old warrants, credit card companies to go after debts and the Centers for Disease Control to track mandatory vaccinations.“The right to vote is the most fundamental component of our nation’s democracy, ” Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said in a statement. “These individuals clearly infringed upon that right in a blatant attempt to suppress votes and undermine the integrity of this election. ”“Do not let these individuals or others like them succeed. Exercise your right and get out and VOTE! ” the statement continued.
The men were indicted on eight counts of telecommunication fraud and seven counts of bribery in the Ohio case. They face over 18 years in prison if convicted. Arrests warrants were issued in Ohio for the duo who was released on $100, 000 bond in the Michigan case. In Michigan, they face charges including conspiracy to commit an election law violation and using a computer to commit election law crime for which they face up to 24 years in prison if convicted”.
Republicans using Robocalls is nothing new. When Obama was running for President, Republicans used robocalls to practically accuse him of being a domestic terrorist.
Voter Intimidation Billboards like the ones above appeared in during the 2012 election in Cleveland, Columbus and Milwaukee. They popped up just as early voting began in Ohio. Civil rights groups charged these intimidating billboards were meant to frighten lawful and confused voters away from the polls.
Reports of similar scare tactics, such as robo-calls and threatening flyers, designed to deter voters in black and Latino neighborhoods recur each election year as polls begin to open. As Brentin Mock has reported for Colorlines, early voting has been a crucial part of increasing black turnout and tea party groups in states like Ohio and Florida have worked to limit it, under the guise of combating voter fraud.
Republicans use dirty tricks tactics to try and keep people from voting because it’s the only way they can win.
Republican Senator from Mississippi, Cindy Hyde-Smith caught on video saying “it’s a great idea’ to make it harder for liberal folks to vote”
Historian Carol Anderson traces the evolution of voter suppression tactics, from poll taxes and literacy tests instituted after the passage of the 15th Amendment to the rise of strict voter ID laws and poll closures after the election of America’s first Black president. Anderson argues voter suppression is rooted in white supremacy and White rage.
