Thread by @PolarBarrett

.@samueljrob and take a deep look at a West Michigan planning commissioner who participated in the Capitol siege and announced a campaign for Michigan’s top office. Ryan Kelley spent the last year organizing right-wing outrage and embracing militias.

mlive.com/politics/2021/…

Throughout 2020, Kelley built a following among aggrieved Michiganders under the banner of the American Patriot Council. Kelley, often flanked by armed paramilitary groups, spread misinformation about COVID-19 and called for the arrest of government officials he labeled traitors.

At least 7 of the 14 men arrested for plotting to kidnap Whitmer attended Kelley's events. Immediately after their arrest, the APC experienced a big boost in traffic to its webpage and social media accounts. Kelley denounced them but speculated they were treated unfairly.

Kelley petitioned the Department of Justice to prosecute "felons" like Gov. Whitmer, AG Nessel and SoS Benson for infringing on personal liberties with COVID restrictions. We were told he inquired about making a citizen's arrest but was dissuaded by the DOJ.

Kelley is a real estate agent and lifestyle vlogger who had virtually no government experience before getting in the middle of Michigan's political battles. In Allendale Township, he defended a Confederate monument that "isn't all that valuable to me."

Residents said the fight over the monument emboldened racism in the community. They call Allendale a “sundown town." Armed militias and Confederate flags appeared, putting Black residents on edge.

Kelley has claimed he’s faced racism from others over his support for the controversial monument. Kelley said removing the Civil War statue would lead to the destruction of churches and religious iconography, and BLM wants to "rip down all statues of Jesus."