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| Paula Bowman |
The Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol prompted the national League of Women voters to issue a statement specifically naming Donald Trump, an unusual move:
“Today the League of Women Voters of the United States president Dr. Deborah Turner, CEO Virginia Kase, and the full board of directors issued the following statement in response to the violent demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol:
“This is a dark day in the history of the United States of America. Today's activity on Capitol Hill should have been a procedural exercise to finalize the 2020 election. Instead, our nation's Capitol was attacked by domestic terrorists seeking to invalidate the will of the people.
“The actions by these terrorists have had no impact on the results of the election. This violent mob was encouraged by an outgoing president who lost re-election in a free and fair election.
“Donald Trump has emboldened and empowered violent agitators, perpetuated dangerous conspiracy theories, and dishonored the office of the President. Furthermore, the members of Congress who continuously lie to the American people about the proven legitimacy of this election are also responsible for today's horrific events. There is blood on their hands.
“The League of Women Voters of the United States calls on President Donald Trump to concede the election immediately. We call on all members of Congress to respect the certification process, condemn the actions of these terrorists, and support a peaceful inauguration on Jan. 20.”
Bowman, a Plymouth Township resident, lets the national statement stand.
“It is a national issue,” she said Jan. 7. “One of our missions is defending democracy. This is a very divided country.”
She notes some individuals disregard “the Constitution or general ethical conditions. We have a lot of work ahead of us as does the new administration.”
The League of Women Voters, founded in 1920, doesn't endorse candidates or issues. The LWV of Northwest Wayne County distributed some 2,200 printed voter guides last fall to libraries and senior centers, also sending questionnaires to candidates for the online guide.
Viewership of Vote411 online was 48,828 for the communities in the Northwest Wayne League.
This past fall, the LWV of Northwest Wayne County hosted several candidate forums, including for the 11th District of U.S. Congress.
School board and township board candidates were also invited to forums. Bowman noted in-person forums in the past, rather than on Zoom, drew well in part because of a press person attending and giving advance publicity. “We still did the best we could,” she noted.
“The league is a trusted source of nonpartisan information,” said Bowman. Individual communities such as Belleville received their own voter guides.
The remote Zoom forums didn't mean securing a venue and they cost less, but Bowman and fellow LWV volunteers still hope to return to in-person forums after the pandemic. “It also seems there is more interest” in person, she said. “The public couldn't attend the Zoom forums.”
That meant seeking questions ahead of time, with voters watching prerecorded forums.
Of Vote411.org, Bowman noted, “Michigan is one of the strongest users.” Compiling the information takes time and effort, but is also rewarding for volunteers, she said.
League of Women Voters of the United States President Dr. Deborah Turner, CEO Virginia Kase, and the full board of directors issued a statement in response to the violent demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol last week.
“This is a dark day in the history of the United States of America. Today's activity on Capitol Hill should have been a procedural exercise to finalize the 2020 election. Instead, our nation's Capitol was attacked by domestic terrorists seeking to invalidate the will of the people.
“The actions by these terrorists have had no impact on the results of the election. This violent mob was encouraged by an outgoing president who lost re-election in a free and fair election.
“Donald Trump has emboldened and empowered violent agitators, perpetuated dangerous conspiracy theories, and dishonored the office of the president. Furthermore, the members of Congress who continuously lie to the American people about the proven legitimacy of this election are also responsible for today's horrific events. There is blood on their hands.
“The League of Women Voters of the United States calls on President Donald Trump to concede the election immediately. We call on all members of Congress to respect the certification process, condemn the actions of these terrorists, and support a peaceful inauguration on January 20.”
