The Kewanee Voice board of directors is responding to a letter mailed to the Voice’s post office box, which they characterize as “threatening and menacing.”
The anonymous letter, which claims to have been written by a group, makes demands of The Kewanee Voice and threatens the organization’s nonprofit status as well as threatens to label the nonprofit news organization as a “terrorist organization” if the demands aren’t met.
The typewritten letter was received on Monday, Nov. 25 and was taken, along with the envelope, to the Kewanee Police Department. Subsequently, a police report was filed. Police Chief Stephen Kijanowski said he forwarded the letter to the Henry County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.
The letter writer or writers made political claims that they say are now the “law of the land” and urged the newspaper to “embrace the positive role that MAGA values can play in fostering a more, [sic] controlled, and united society.”
The letter goes on in the final paragraph to assert that compliance is essential to the organization not “loosing [sic] your nonprofit status and not branded a terrorist organization,” and further demands that the Voice immediately remove “staff and volunteers who are gay, trans, illegals, suspicious immigrants, BLM, left wing liberals, including parents of, friends of, and sympathizers of.” The letter ends with a warning, “We are watching and vigilant.”
The Kewanee Voice launched its website on May 2, 2023 and is a 501 (c) 3 organization that covers local news, information, sports and issues that affect the lives of Kewanee and Henry County residents. Under the IRS code, the publication is prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for elective public office. Violation of the prohibition may result in denial of revocation of tax-exempt status.
“The Kewanee Voice is a nonpartisan publication and has never covered politics as it relates to the state or federal government. Our mission statement makes our purpose clear. We serve our community and as a nonprofit we fully understand how we should conduct ourselves when it comes to covering local politics and issues,” wrote Publisher Mike Berry and Managing Editor Susan DeVilder in a joint statement.
Board Chair TD Welch released the following statement:
“Recently, our nonprofit newsroom was targeted by a threatening letter demanding the removal of several board members under the pretense of complying with newly invoked ‘MAGA law.’ This demand represents a troubling attempt to undermine our independence and the vital role we play in delivering fact-based, nonpartisan journalism.
“At a time when trust in the media is more critical than ever, such intimidation tactics are not only an attack on our organization but also on the principles of free press and informed communities.
“We stand resolute in our commitment to serve the public with integrity and we will not allow politically motivated threats to dictate our governance or compromise our mission.”
The Kewanee Voice has always been and will remain an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. Under the laws enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), it is illegal to discriminate against someone (applicant or employee) because of that person’s race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation) national origin, age (40 and older), disability or genetic information.
If you value local, independent journalism, please consider supporting The Kewanee Voice by making a monthly donation here.
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***Anyone with information on the letter or letter writer or writers is urged to contact the Kewanee Police Department at the non-emergency number 309-853-1911.
