Over the course of last week, Ambassador Bridge, a “major international gateway” connecting Detroit and Windsor, was shut down due to a blockade that impacted $356 million of goods daily.
Republican gubernatorial candidates didn’t hesitate to stand against Michigan’s workers and economy even as the auto industry suffered “$299.9 million in direct losses,” according to a study. Those losses included assembly plants at GM and Ford being forced to cancel shifts due to a lack of parts traveling across the bridge, which resulted in workers weathering up to $51 million in lost wages.
Kevin Rinke released a video applauding the blockade grinding commerce and manufacturing to a halt. Rinke has previously made his opposition to Michigan’s strong auto industry clear when he came out against the historic $7 billion GM investment.
James Craig threw his support behind this major economic chokehold on Michigan and encouraged it to continue.
Garrett Soldano also took a stand against Michigan’s working families with a video applauding the blockade and referring to the protestors as “true freedom fighters” with contagious courage.
Tudor Dixon and Mike Brown tweeted their support for the blockade, while Ryan Kelley stood on a highway leading to the border to show his solidarity and apparently attempt to one-up the other 12 Republicans locked in this bitter and messy primary.
MDP Chair Lavora Barnes issued the following statement:
“Republican gubernatorial candidates cheered on the $300 million dollar sized chunk that was taken out of Michigan’s economy last week thanks to the Ambassador Bridge Blockade that would still be continuing today if they got their way. Working families and the economy at large require real leadership to keep Michigan moving, not dangerous extremists that won’t hesitate to have the auto industry foot the bill for their daily ideological whims.”
