(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/24/2024) Friday’s debate between U.S. Senate Democrats Hill Harper and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) has been canceled, with hosting station WHPR-TV citing Harper's supporters attempting to re-negotiate the terms of the debate four days prior to include a live studio audience and a Black woman on the moderator panel. 

In a July 22 letter to the station obtained by MIRS, numerous Black women in politics expressed “deep disappointment” that WHPR isn’t making the following changes: “secure an African American woman journalist as a moderator, broadcast the debate live with video, let people attend and ask questions, open the debate up to the press and let news reporters and cameras in the studio to cover this important part of the democratic process. 

“Black women deserve a seat at the table. Period,” the letter said. Names that appear in the letter include Alisha Bell, chair of the Wayne County Commission; former U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence; Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald; Lathrup Village Mayor Kelly Garrett; Harper Woods Mayor Valerie Kindell; Ypsilanti Mayor Nicole Brown; Lavonia Perryman, President of the Metro Detroit Congress of Black Women; and former Rep. Leslie Love.  

The letter says if the accommodations can’t be made by noon on July 25, the letter's signers will urge Harper not to participate in the event.  

In a statement from the station, WHPR-TV CEO R.J. Watkins said the station was never asked to include a Black woman on the moderator panel, and if it had been asked with more notice, it “would have absolutely agreed.” 

Requesting a live audience “is less about our format and appears to be a tactic to avoid the only confirmed debate in this primary,” the statement said, adding that the station never said the debate would be closed to other media.  

Watkins said several media outlets have been contacted about having reporters cover the debate in-studio.  

“We thought we had an agreement, however our efforts have been met with confusion, division, and hurtful disappointment. The fact that Mr. Harper has unfairly attacked one of Detroit’s only Black-owned TV stations is disgusting and deeply offensive,” the statement said. 

“We’re grateful to WHPR for their work to set up this debate. Elissa agreed to it over a month ago, and was prepping in earnest. She will instead continue to directly engage voters in Detroit and across the state,” said Antoine Givens, a Slotkin spokesperson.