Berrien County GOP, American Legion, comment on controversial “Battlefield Michigan” event in Stevensville

STEVENSVILLE, Mich. -- A controversial event entitled “Battlefield Michigan, Untold Stories from Michigan Freedom Fighters” is set to be hosted this Friday at American Legion Post 568.

The event features former Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley and Jeremy Roger’s, both of whom were involved in the January 6th Capitol riots. They were both pardoned by President Trump earlier this year.

The event also features William and Michael Null, the two men acquitted for their roles in an alleged kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

The American Legion Post claims that they weren’t aware what the topic of the event was before signing a contract with the Berrien County GOP. The GOP denies this, saying they verbally informed the legion ahead of time.

Republican leaders also say they were told in mid-April that the event would need to be cancelled since hosting a political event would go against the legions by-laws. The GOP responded to the proposed cancellation by saying it would be a breach of contract.

Both sides reached a compromise of covering all American Legion signage during the event and removing the name “American Legion” from all advertising for the fundraiser.

The American Legion Post said in a statement that they are a non-partisan organization and are in no way a part of the fundraiser.

Berrien County Democrats condemn the event and are asking members of the public to write their local congressmen or the state American Legion office about the issue