Imagine the power of your voice being silenced, not by force but by a deliberate act of misinformation—an act designed to confuse, delay, and deter you from participating in one of the most fundamental rights of democracy: the right to vote. For generations, Black communities have fought tirelessly to ensure that our voices are heard in a system built to keep us silent. And now, as Election Day approaches, we are once again faced with an insidious attempt to undermine our power. This time, it’s in Michigan, where the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus is demanding answers and accountability for what could be a blatant attempt at voter suppression in Lansing’s Black community.
Black lawmakers in Michigan are sounding an alarm. On Sunday, October 13th, the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) took action by sending a formal complaint to Attorney General Dana Nessel and Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Dewane. They are demanding an investigation into Tom Barrett and his congressional campaign for potentially violating Michigan law by distributing an advertisement that told a predominantly Black audience to vote on November 6, one day after Election Day, which is November 5, 2024.
The advertisement in question appeared in the October 2, 2024, edition of The Michigan Bulletin, a respected Black-owned publication serving Lansing’s Black community for decades. The ad contained a glaring error, instructing readers to vote on November 6. However, in another ad placed in the Lansing City Pulse, the correct election date of November 5 was listed. This discrepancy has raised concerns among Black leaders, especially given the historic targeting of Black communities through misinformation campaigns meant to suppress votes.
Senator Sarah Anthony, 1st Vice Chairperson of the MLBC and the first Black woman to represent Mid-Michigan in the state senate, expressed her outrage at this incident. “As the first Black woman senator to represent Mid-Michigan, I am deeply disturbed that Tom Barrett would pull an old trick like this to suppress the vote in Lansing’s Black community. We filed this complaint because it is unacceptable for anyone seeking to represent our communities in Congress to attempt to silence our voices, and Tom Barrett must be held accountable,” Anthony said, emphasizing the weight of the situation.
The Black Caucus didn’t hesitate to take swift action in defense of Black voters in Lansing, aligning with their longstanding commitment to preserving democracy, particularly in communities of color. “One of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus pillars is centered around preserving democracy for everyone in Michigan but in communities of color in particular. Not only has the MLBC and its members collectively supported expanded voting rights in Michigan, but our members have made it clear that any attempt at voter suppression will not be tolerated in any capacity,” Chris Jackson, Executive Director of MLBC, declared.
The timing and placement of the incorrect ad raise serious questions, and Black lawmakers are not buying the narrative that this was a simple oversight. Tom Barrett’s campaign issued a statement, brushing off the error as a “proofing mistake” and claiming that their goal has always been to engage and win the support of Black voters. According to Jason C. Roe, a spokesperson for Barrett’s campaign, the publisher of The Michigan Bulletin notified the campaign about the error over the weekend, and a corrected version of the ad will be placed in the next issue. Roe further claimed that the campaign had sent mailers to Black households on October 2 and October 9, which included the correct election date.
But even as Barrett’s campaign scrambles to control the damage, the MLBC remains firm in its stance. Their complaint points to the fact that the Lansing City Pulse, a white-owned publication, had the correct election date, while the Black-owned Michigan Bulletin did not. This difference is impossible to overlook, especially in a state where Black communities have long had to fend off attempts to suppress their political power.
Chris Jackson made it clear that this is more than just an error—it’s a potential violation of the law. Under Michigan law, it is a felony to use “bribery, menace, or other corrupt means or device,” including spreading false information about the election process, to prevent someone from voting. The MLBC complaint emphasizes that if Tom Barrett and his campaign intentionally spread misinformation to suppress Black voters, they could be guilty of a felony and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“At best, Tom Barrett and his campaign have committed a shocking oversight which will undoubtedly lead to confusion by Black voters in Lansing — in part because they still do not appear to have made any attempt to correct the record,” the complaint reads. “And, at worst, this ad could be part of an intentional strategy to ‘deter’ Black voters by deceiving them into showing up to vote on the day after the 2024 election.”
Senator Erika Geiss, Chairperson of the MLBC, joined Senator Sarah Anthony in signing the formal complaint, and their voices echo the concerns of many Black leaders who have seen voter suppression tactics used time and time again. This incident in Lansing is not happening in isolation but against a backdrop of continuous struggles for voting rights across the nation, where Black communities have had to fight for the right to vote and have their votes counted.
In an election year where every vote counts, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Tom Barrett, a Republican, is running to represent Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democratic Representative Elissa Slotkin, who is vacating it to run for U.S. Senate. Barrett’s opponent, Curtis Hertel Jr., a former Democratic state senator, is running to keep the seat in Democratic hands, and the race is expected to be one of the most closely watched in Michigan.
Voter suppression tactics—whether intentional or not—carry long-lasting consequences. Black communities have historically been the target of misinformation and systemic disenfranchisement efforts that erode trust in the political system. The MLBC, with this complaint, is standing firm in its commitment to protecting the integrity of the voting process and ensuring that Black voters in Lansing and across Michigan can make their voices heard on November 5, the actual Election Day.
This fight is about more than just one ad in one Black-owned newspaper. It’s about holding those in power accountable when they attempt to undermine the political power of marginalized communities. It’s about ensuring that democracy works for everyone, not just for those who can afford to place full-page ads in local newspapers.
Black lawmakers in Michigan aren’t letting this one slide. They’ve drawn a line in the sand, and as the investigation moves forward, the focus will remain on protecting the vote—because every vote counts, and every voter deserves to have accurate information to participate in the democratic process.
The MLBC’s actions are a powerful reminder that Black communities in Michigan, and across the country, continue to fight for their rightful place in the political process, and they won’t tolerate any attempts to silence them.
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