Why the DeVos family's backing of the Michigan protests is no surprise

[usaf-vet]

While the anti-coronavirus lockdowns springing up around the US came as a surprise to many, the involvement of the conservative billionaire DeVos family, repeated donors to a slew of dubious rightwing causes, should not.

The family – which includes Betsy DeVos, Trump’s education secretary – has been a regular donor to the Michigan Freedom Fund, which helped promote a Michigan protest against the state’s stay-at-home orders in mid-April.

That rally, which saw about 3,000 people descend on the state’s capitol building, in Lansing, sparked a slew of other protests in states, and an endorsement from Trump.

But the DeVoses’ donations to the Michigan Freedom Fund – more than half a million dollars over the past four years, including from Betsy DeVos herself – are the tip of an iceberg of support for conservative causes.

The family, which has a net worth of $5.6bn accrued through a sprawling business, handed over more than $10m to Republican candidates and groups during the 2016 election, and has pushed causes including Christian schools and the opposition of equal rights for LGBT people.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/26/devos-family-michigan-protest-rightwing-donors

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. This is the Who and What AMWAY Distributors are supporting.....

Back in the 1990's when Rich Delos and Jay VanAndel were running AMWAY, it was a company and business model I was proud to be a part of. I had a great organization growing of Distributors and clients who loved the products, that I love still to this day.

When both Rich and Jay passed away, I began to see the direction Dick DeVos was taking the company, and I heard him speak many times. I was not aware of his politics then. Nkw, I am glad I am no longer part of this company. The support for ultra conservative ideals violates my values and principles.