DETROIT – The Detroit chapter of Represent.Us, an anti-corruption organization, held a demonstration outside the financial firm Deloitte’s Renaissance Center offices Tuesday afternoon.
The event was the latest action in a campaign that has included print and digital ads targeting Deloitte managing partner Mark Davidoff for backing a lawsuit that aims to remove a congressional redistricting reform measure from the November ballot.
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The lawsuit is primarily funded by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, a business organization that Davidoff chairs. On Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an order saying it would hear oral arguments in the case on July 18. At least four state Supreme Court justices have received significant campaign contributions from the Chamber.
About 30 Represent.Us members demonstrated from Atwater Street to Jefferson Avenue on Tuesday with chants of “Drop the suit!” and “Let us vote!”
The event culminated in chapter leader Emily Wietecha, fellow organizer Helen Humphreys and a few other activists unsuccessfully attempting to deliver a petition with over 4,000 signatures to Davidoff, asking him to drop the lawsuit. Two security guards approached the group in the lobby of the Renaissance Center, asked them to leave, and they complied promptly and peacefully.
Humphreys said the signed petition would be mailed to Davidoff.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce issued a press release Monday, rebutting the claims of Represent.Us and defending the lawsuit. Jim Holcomb, the Chamber’s executive vice president and general counsel, stated, “This sweeping rewrite of the state constitution requires convening a constitutional convention.”
Michigan remains one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation.