Name: Sen. Shirkey pressured to resign – again – after more controversial remarks surface | News Hits
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Sen. Shirkey pressured to resign – again – after more controversial remarks surface | News Hits

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Switch to the of this page.An advocacy group is renewing its call for Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to resign after video surfaced of the Clarklake Republican making controversial remarks to an armed, anti-Gov. Gretchen Whitmer crowd last year.In an ominous speech at the American Patriot Rally in Grand Rapids in May 2020, Shirkey boasted that he was in possession of three weapons and encouraged the boisterous crowd to “train” and “be ready” to “test” the government.“I came here today with three weapons — my sidearm and two weapons that are much more powerful than my sidearm,” Shirkey, holding up a Bible and U.S. Constitution, told the crowd, which included militia members. “Be prepared and continue to do your teaching and your training and be ready to do the testing of government when they get it backwards.”The remarks came on the same month Shirkey declared Whitmer was “drunk on the addiction of unfettered power.”Progress Michigan, a liberal advocacy group, said Shirkey’s rhetoric was dangerous and “a clear precursor to what was to come” in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, when a mob of Trump supporters violently stormed the Capitol building, leading to the deaths of five people.“Once again, Shirkey has been caught on camera making dangerous and ignorant comments,” Progress Michigan Executive Director Lonnie Scott said in a statement. “Shirkey’s history of providing free advice to militia groups and his recent claims that the January 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection was a ‘hoax’ have undeniably fomented political violence to an unacceptable degree. Despite witnessing a conspiracy to kidnap and kill Gov. Whitmer last year, Shirkey has endlessly provoked the lies that fueled attacks on elected officials and our democracy. The only thing Shirkey is fit to lead is the singing of hymnals, and even that is debatable. We renew our calls for him to resign immediately.”A month before Shirkey’s speech, a group of with rifles entered the state Capitol building.Whitmer also has been the target of threats because of her precautions during the pandemic. The Michigan Capitol building was last month following a bomb threat, and in October, 14 men were charged with the governor.The FBI presented as evidence the fact that the alleged would-be kidnappers .Progress Michigan and others called for Shirkey, the top Republican in the state, to resign after last week that he claimed the Jan. 6 insurrection was “a hoax.”Stay on top of Detroit news and views. Sign up for our weekly issue delivered each Wednesday.Tags: , , , , , , , , ,We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.Email us at .Detroit Metro Times works for you, and your support is essential.Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Detroit and beyond.Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Detroit's true free press free.Top StoriesAdvertisement:|February 17-23, 2021Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox.P.O. Box 20734Ferndale, MI 48220Main: (313) 961-4060Advertising: (313) 961-4060Classified: (313) 961-4060All parts of this site Copyright © 2021 Detroit Metro Times.© 2021Detroit Metro Times -Website powered by

Switch to the of this page.An advocacy group is renewing its call for Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to resign after video surfaced of the Clarklake Republican making controversial remarks to an armed, anti-Gov. Gretchen Whitmer crowd last year.In an ominous speech at the American Patriot Rally in Grand Rapids in May 2020, Shirkey boasted that he was in possession of three weapons and encouraged the boisterous crowd to “train” and “be ready” to “test” the government.“I came here today with three weapons — my sidearm and two weapons that are much more powerful than my sidearm,”...

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Steve Neavling is an investigative reporter at Detroit Metro Times & creator of Motor City Muckraker, an independent watchdog news site.

Steve Neavling

Detroit's alternative weekly. Founded 1980. Tips: 313-202-8011 or letters@metrotimes.com

Sen. Shirkey pressured to resign – again – after more controversial remarks surface | News Hits

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