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Cops target Black community leader

Published Apr 27, 2005 4:39 PM

On April 18, Benton Harbor police arrested activist and civil-rights leader the Rev. Edward Pinkney in his home. Pinkney has been an outspoken critic and organizer against police brutality and economic devastation in the largely African American city in western Michigan.

He has been charged by the Berrien County prosecutor with four felonies and a misdemeanor following his leading role in the successful election recall of a city commissioner who strongly supports the police chief.

Benton Harbor’s Black community rose up in rebellion in June 2003 after the death of an African American motorcyclist in a police chase. Residents had long been protesting racist police actions. The economic depression in the city also has angered the community, which only has to look across the bridge to the predominantly white and wealthy sister city of St. Joseph.

Massive repression followed the uprising. Two hundred local and state police—armed with armored personnel carriers, helicopters and dogs—occupied the city.

The Rev. Pinkney was one of the community leaders who spearheaded a large, regional civil-rights march in Benton Harbor a few weeks after the rebellion. His continuing activities to expose police brutality, to fight for jobs and investment in Benton Harbor, and to expose the racist courts and political machine that operates in Berrien County have angered the ruling elite.

As leader of the Black Autonomy Network of Community Organizations (BANCO) in Benton Harbor, Pinkney led a recent petition drive that put the recall of City Commissioner Glenn Yarbrough on the ballot. Yarbrough, brother of former Mayor Charles Yarbrough and supporter of Police Chief Samuel Harris, was voted out of office in the Feb. 22 recall election.

The county prosecutor then went to Berrien Trial Court to overturn the election. Pressure was reportedly brought on one witness to testify that Rev. Pinkney “bought votes for $5 each.” The media went along with this frame-up, running articles denouncing Pinkney and attacking his character. Other charges include “attempting to influence absentee voters” and helping voters who couldn’t read to fill out their ballots!

In mid-April Chief Judge Paul Maloney overturned the recall of Yarbrough and ordered a new recall election to be held Aug. 2. Pinkney’s arrest followed only a few days later.

The same day as the Pinkney’s arrest, members of Benton Harbor’s African American community packed the City Commissioners’ meeting to protest another case of police brutality.

Alzeni Crumble, a county probation officer, had been stopped by two white Benton Harbor traffic cops earlier in the day. According to witnesses and others who were permitted to view the police video of the incident, the police threw Crumble to the ground.

Supporters of the Rev. Pinkney are preparing for a march and rally to demand that the frame-up charges be dropped and for an end to police brutality and racism in Berrien County.

Donations are urgently needed for his defense. Checks can be made payable to Attorney Tat Parrish and sent c/o Rev. Edward Pinkney, 1940 Union Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022.