It was the best of times
On Election Day, I spent the entire day at a polling station in northwest Detroit serving as a poll chaplain. What’s a poll chaplain? We are clergy providing a calming, moral presence at polling places. The hope is that our presence will discourage insulting and intimidating behavior and verbal threats from even starting. Click on the link above to read my -*blog to learn why I decided to serve as a poll chaplain.
Lawyers and Collars, a nonprofit organization, provided training In the event of a confrontation. Our role included standing with the targeted individual and offering our assistance to that person. We were not to engage with the targeter, but would work to diffuse bullying or behavior designed to intimidate a voter.
My assignment was issued from the Council of Black Pastors in Detroit and Vicinity. The leader of this group is the intrepid Rev. Dr. Steven Bland, Chief Pastor at Liberty Temple Baptist Church.
Using nonviolence and a ministry of presence
We had just one incident around 8:30am. A tall, thin white man parked his old 4-door, dark gray BMW about 20 feet directly across from me. He got out and paced back and forth by his car. He looked around in all directions several times for about 45 minutes and was on his cell phone making numerous short calls. Then he got back in his car and drove off. He did not have a license plate on his car. As my grandmother used to say, “That does not pass the smell test.”
We had an 800 number to report problems or issues, so I called this in. I’m sure he saw me wearing my clerical collar. Our leadership thinks my collar and presence dissuaded him from what he seemed to be up to that morning.
I don’t know if he was planning something inappropriate at a predominantly black polling place. But I hope I helped to diffuse the situation. I hope I made a difference just by being present, not confrontative, and nonviolent, to avoid a regretful incident altogether.
That was the only incident for the day … a non-incident, thankfully.
A voting festival popped up!
At the polling place, I met people and made new friends and colleagues. It was a marvelous day — a perfect Fall day in my beloved Michigan. Never did a cloud appear in that bright blue sky. Autumn splendor colored the area spectacularly, as golden, red, and orange leaves painted a vista of hope and beauty.
Because we stayed at the poll from open to close, conversations struck up all over. We respected the 100-foot state-mandated buffer zone. We shared food and water, and a taco truck showed up for most of the day. Then another food truck and a DJ arrived. Soon a festive atmosphere developed, as people walked into the precinct to make their voices heard.
Street Art and Robo-calls
We even had some street art with a “robot” dancing to the music and denouncing Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman for setting up robo-calling in Detroit designed to intimidate Detroiters from voting with false messages. Wohl and Burkman are out on a $100,000 bond each.
It was a day filled with hope, camaraderie, and nonviolent, public power.
It was the worst of times
A little Michigan history this year
So much tumult has happened in Michigan since COVID struck the world with its poisoned barbs. Armed protestors crowded Michigan Capitol buildings to complain about our strict COVID quarantining and social distancing requirements declared by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
In June, the protesters armed themselves with semi-automatic rifles and intimidated legislators as they conducted business in the chamber. They stood on a balcony overlooking where the lawmakers sat, making them sitting ducks. This was patently wrong.
In October, we learned that some of those same protesters conspired to kidnap Governor Whitmer, take her to Wisconsin, and “try” her for treason, followed by execution.
A call to help with ballot challenges
On Wednesday, November 4th, I got a call to go to the TCF Convention Center to assist with Democratic or Independent attorney challenges at Detroit’s ballot processing center. I got to TCF only to learn that the balloting area was well beyond COVID capacity, possibly by 100 people. I understand this happened because people were not signing out when they left for a break and the managers lost count.
I had challenge credentials but could not get in ultimately. I did get into the ballot counting area and was able to watch what was going on, and it was orderly. The media outlets had a large area cordoned off, and they documented the proceedings.
For the most part, however, I stood in the area just outside the ballot processing room in the basement of TCF. Mostly Republican challengers waited there, and they were shouting to be let into the counting arena. After a while they left and went to an unknown place to meet, I think. A woman in the group asked me, “Are you in the Republican or Independent group?” I said no and she left.
About 30 minutes later, the group returned to the waiting area and started chanting, “Stop the count!” repeatedly, and getting louder and seemingly more amped up. They pounded on the windows until a Detroit Police captain made them stop. The group repeated the Pledge of Allegiance and sang “God Bless America.”
Multiple police officers assisted the captain as he gave orders to keep a lid on the situation. But I started to feel worried that this could turn violent.
My heart sank
What affected me most was the attitude. This group displayed rage, selfishness, rudeness, and physically intimidated some of those around them, including me. My heart sank as their screams reverberated through my body and rang in my ears.
I felt somehow lost and wondered, what has happened to us? As the all-white chanters demanded the ballot counting stop to disenfranchise predominantly black voters. How could I feel so hopeful on election day and so disheartened the day after?
“Trump Unity”
This flotilla circled the TCF Center as I arrived. A man on a loudspeaker said, “You can forget about your EBT cards [for food assistance] and your free cheese because President Trump is going to put an end to all of that and this rigged election. Voting Day was yesterday and the count should stop.” This diatribe stopped me in my shoes as I craned my ear to hear as much as I could. It rendered me speechless and motionless for a minute.
Victory for Biden and Harris
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris took Michigan handily by 150,000 votes. Detroiters pushed Michigan over the “Blue Wall” once again. And Trump’s wild allegations of fraud via his legal challenges thus far have failed in Michigan, as with everywhere else around the country.
Perhaps surprisingly, I’m glad I experienced both days. Election day reminded me of the power of “We the People,” when we join our voices for justice. Wednesday reminded me that we have a lot of work to do to repair the breach in this country.
May we all pray to discern ways to be a healing balm, and then get out there and do it.
Blessings on your journey.
