Woman says Michigan county GOP shared flyer justifying force, even use of cars, against protesters

A Michigan woman who says she unwittingly walked into a meeting of the Manistee County Republican Party is speaking out after attendees were handed a flyer suggesting motorists were justified in using force – including driving through crowds of people – to clear blocked roads blocked by protests.

Janet Stancliff, of Manistee County, told Michigan Advance on Tuesday she mistakenly entered the wrong meeting room Oct. 9 at West Shore Community College in Manistee. She had intended to attend a meeting of the local League of Women Voters chapter, with both groups scheduled to meet in adjacent spaces.

Stancliff said she and her boyfriend sat in the front row, unaware they were in the wrong gathering, and were given a sheet of paper titled “Manistee GOP Internal Memo.” The document, dated Aug. 14, 2025, outlines suggested positions for Manistee County Republicans regarding protesters who block roads.

The Advance was able to review the document, which states that protestors have “shown disdain and contempt for motorists and their passengers” in recent years “by preventing them from proceeding to their destinations, which could include medical emergencies.”



https://michiganadvance.com/2025/11/19/woman-says-michigan-county-gop-shared-flyer-justifying-force-even-use-of-cars-against-protesters/