A Black Lansing activist is calling for the resignation of a city council member following a series of harassing text messages.
Michael Lynn Jr. has been a vocal critic of Lansing Mayor Andy Schor for what he says is a lack of effort in addressing community and police relations.
Following a facebook post in which city councilmember Brandon Betz supported the mayor’s address. Lynn publicly questioned the councilmember.
According to Lynn, this sparked a text message interaction in which Betz harassed and disparaged him.
“He can't be trusted, like nothing that he says can be trusted," said Lynn. "And that's the only thing we have for accountability when it comes to elected officials is that we can trust what they say they are doing.”
Screenshots of the messages show Betz, who is white, using profanity and racially insensitive language. Betz told the Lansing City Pulse that his language was unprofessional and he only wrote the messages because Lynn threatened him. Lynn denies doing so.