State Wide Coalition to Repeal Michigan's Emergency Manager Law Hosts Rally Night Before Turning in Petitions

News provided by

Stand Up for Democracy

Feb 27, 2012, 10:33 ET

DETROIT, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a news release by Stand Up for Democracy:

Who: Organizers of the repeal of the emergency manager law, supporters, organized labor, progressive groups

What: Rally and release final number of gathered signatures

When: 5:30 p.m., February 28, 2012

Where: 600 West Lafayette in downtown Detroit (next to WDIV )

Why:  The Stand Up for Democracy coalition has collected over 200,000 signatures from citizens across the state to place a repeal of Public Act 4 on the November ballot. The law is seen as a naked power grab by Lansing politicians that created emergency managers and gave them sweeping powers including the ability to:

  • Seize and sell public assets without a court order
  • Strip elected officials of their duties without due process
  • Dissolve/merge cities, townships and school districts without a popular vote
  • Break binding contracts and eliminate collective bargaining rights at will
  • Close vital public services without a public hearing
  • Outsource public services and enter into contracts without legislative oversight

In June, volunteers in Ann Arbor, Benton Harbor, Detroit, Flint, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette, Monroe, Pontiac, Petoskey, Traverse City and Ypsilanti launched a petition drive and circulated 30,000 repeal petitions. 70,000 petitions have been in circulation since then. Only 161,304 valid voter signatures are needed to place the issue on the ballot in November 2012. When the signatures are validated, PA 4 is suspended until the general election. For more information go to www.standup4democracy.com or call 1-866-306-5168 to volunteer.  

On Wednesday, February 29, a bus from Detroit and Flint will depart to Lansing where hundreds of people are expected to gather at Central United Methodist Church, 215 North Capital. At 1 p.m. the participants will deliver the petitions to the first floor of the Richard H. Austin building, 430 Allegan St.

SOURCE Stand Up for Democracy