press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Progress Michigan

June 20, 2023

Contact: Denzel McCampbell, 313-400-0298, denzel@progressmichigan.org 

Progress Michigan Calls on Republican Leaders to Denounce Grand New Party PAC

Multiple Republican lawmakers are involved with new right-wing extremist group spreading disinformation and hate speech

LANSING – Progress Michigan is calling on the Michigan Republican Party to denounce the right-wing extremist group, The Grand New Party PAC, which spreads vile hate speech and disinformation about the LGBTQ+ community, COVID-19, vaccines, climate change, gun safety, and the January 6th insurrection. 

The Grand New Party PAC was started last year with Michigan State Representative Steve Carra as chairman and right-wing extremist Shane Trejo as executive director. Trejo has a history of praising white supremacists as “civil rights heroes” and calling for violence. In December 2022, he called for the Patmos Library to be shut down by force for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ books.

“We cannot allow the MIGOP cozying up to extremists and participating in groups that spread hate speech to go unnoticed,” said Sam Inglot, executive director of Progress Michigan. “The Grand New Party PAC spreads dangerous disinformation and hate speech targeting already marginalized communities. MIGOP and Republicans House leadership cannot stand by in silence as their members participate in groups that are actively working to hurt LGBTQ+ Michiganders, threaten violence and spread disinformation. All Michiganders deserve to live their lives safely and without fear and should not have the very people who are supposed to represent them aligning with groups that seek to harm them.”

Steve Carra is not the only Michigan legislator and member of the MIGOP Insurrection Caucus that is a member of The Grand New Party PAC. The following have also been active at their events:

  • Rep. Matt Maddock – Hosted a fundraiser for GNP at his house. 
  • Rep. Angela Rigas – Attended the GNP launch press conference along with numerous other events.
  • Rep. Neil Friske – Attended the GNP launch press conference along with numerous other events.
  • Rep. Jim Desana – Interviewed by Shane Trejo on a GNP Zoom call that was posted to their Rumble channel. 

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