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Michigan State Police are investigating a three-minute-long voicemail that state Rep. Cynthia Johnson received on Tuesday containing racist language and death threats, telling her "you will die." Johnson, who represents the city of Detroit, was alerted to the voicemail by a staffer, and filed a police report, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The voicemail, which was available in its entirety on the Free Press' website, was reportedly opened with the caller, who sounded like a woman, referring to Johnson as "baby doll," and racist animal imagery.
"We are going to get you—you will die. You're one of the worst offenders. We actually have a tier, too, in like points for how much you all are worth once we kill you," the caller said. "I'm not a violent person, but I'd slit your throat in a minute."
The caller repeated the words "you will die" several times throughout the voicemail while also threatening Johnson's children and saying the lawmaker could be killed by "long-range shooters" while grocery shopping. Calif. Rep. Maxine Waters was also namedropped in the voicemail when the caller spoke about the "points" system assigned by an unknown group.
"You thought you'd threaten us? Well, we don't threaten—we're gonna kill you," the caller said.
Johnson was censured for a Dec. 8 Facebook video last year, where she responded to previous death threats, saying: "So this is just a warning to you Trumpers. Be careful. Walk lightly. We ain't playing with you. Enough of the shenanigans. Enough is enough. And for those of you who are soldiers, you know how to do it. Do it right. Be in order. Make them pay."
Johnson said she believes the call may be referencing her comments in that video, Detroit Local 4 News reported.
The voicemail ended with the caller saying, "sleep well."
In a statement released by the Michigan Democratic House Caucus, Johnson said the threats were "nothing new."
"This is the same hate and violence Black Americans have faced for generations," Johnson said. "This is not the first time domestic terrorists have tried to silence me with similar threats, but I will not be silenced. How dare they think I will take this lying down. Black women have fought this fight for too long. We're tired from this fight, but we will not take this lying down."
Michigan House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, said the call was an "example of what not just Black elected officials, but Black Americans have faced" throughout history.
"Domestic terrorists are making their racist voices heard, so it is up to us to speak louder. Silence is acceptance. We need to send a clear message that hate has no home here and we will not stand for these threats and political intimidation of Black members, specifically Black female members," Lasinski said. "A threat against one of us is a threat against all of us."
As Newsweek reported earlier this year, the number of death threats against members of Congress had increased by 65 percent during the first four months of 2021 compared to last year, according to Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman.
The Michigan State Police said in a statement they had increased the security presence at the Capitol since mid-January, following the Jan. 6 riots, Detroit Local 4 News reported.
"We continually re-assess security protocols and make adjustments as needed to continue to ensure the safety of our elected legislators and those who work at and visit the capitol. We take all threats very seriously," the statement read.
The police have an open and active investigation, but no further details have been released, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Update 06/10/2021 - 10:55 a.m. ET - The story has been updated to reflect the fact that the entire voicemail audio was available on the Detroit Free Press website.
