Michigan news

Rev. Edward Pinkney on hunger strike

On Dec. 14, Berrien County sheriffs arrested Rev. Pinkney at his home and confiscated his computer. He began a hunger strike on Dec. 15 and pledged to continue it until he is freed.

Why was he dragged from his home? For writing the following paragraph in a newspaper article: “The corruption and the deceitfulness continues in Berrien County Courthouse. Judge Butzbaugh has violated his oath. I support the constitution of the United States and the State of Michigan; we are still waiting on this racist corrupt judge to do the same. Judge Butzbaugh has failed the people, the community, his duties and his office.”

Writing the paragraph is alleged to violate a fifteenth condition of his probation that prohibits “inflammatory behavior.” Pinkney became targeted by the repressive state apparatus for fighting for the rights of African-American people in Benton Harbor, daring to successfully recall a commissioner who was in the hip pocket of the Whirlpool Corporation. The recall threatened to stop a Whirlpool backed “development” plan to build an exclusive golf course over Benton Harbor’s public park on Lake Michigan, which would not benefit the overwhelmingly poor and Black community in Benton Harbor. An all-white jury convicted Rev. Pinkney of vote tampering for paying people to pass out election literature. He was sentenced to five years house arrest with an electronic tether.

The Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice, with the support of Mrs. Pinkney, issued a call for immediate action. Call Mich. Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s office at 517-373-3400 to demand that she restore constitutional rights in Benton Harbor and secure Rev. Pinkney’s release.

Union, community group or church representatives can fax the governor at 517-335-6863 on letterhead, or send a message online by going to michigan.gov/gov and clicking on “contact the governor” at the top. Scroll down to the “online forms and feedback” box and click on “share your opinion.” A form will appear where you can type in your message.

In addition to the immediate action, supporters of Rev. Pinkney are encouraged to write Gov. Granholm demanding a pardon, contribute to his legal costs, sign an online petition (available at thepetitionsite.com) and boycott Whirlpool products. A mass demonstration is planned in Benton Harbor on July 19, 2008. For more information, visit bhbanco.blogspot.com or mecawi.org.

Pro-Palestinian doctor acquitted

On Dec. 3, an Ann Arbor jury acquitted Dr. Catherine Wilkerson of two counts of obstructing police and emergency medical technicians. On Nov. 30, 2006, Ann Arbor and University of Michigan police brutally removed pro-Palestinian demonstrators from a public meeting at the university featuring former Reagan and Bush security advisor Ray Tanter. Wilkerson responded when a protester in the hands of police called out he could not breathe. He was face down and handcuffed with police pressing on him.

Wilkerson identified herself as a medical doctor and attempted to attend to the injured man, who was by then unconscious. Police twisted Wilkerson’s arm, causing injury. She objected to the improper use of ammonia inhalants by the EMTs. Since then, ammonia inhalants have been removed from ambulances.

Wilkerson was charged in February 2007 after she filed an assault complaint against the Ann Arbor police. Packed courtrooms reflected community support for Wilkerson. Her acquittal sets back attempts by university administrations in Michigan to use police brutality to restrict protest against promoters of racism and war.

Hundreds protest racism in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

On Dec. 7, some 200 people made it clear that nooses found Nov. 12 in an engineering classroom at Central Michigan University were not a Halloween prank. The protest was organized by CMU students and supported by the Detroit Council of Baptist Pastors, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice, the NAACP, the New Black Panther Movement and the Urban League.

Support Marie Thornton

Elected Detroit School Board member Marie Thornton was barred from full participation in the committees and day-to-day work of the board on Dec. 13. This continues a campaign of harassment against Thornton intended to stop her outspoken actions against school closings, opposition to expensive Aramark contracts (see article on cafeteria workers in this issue for more about the company) for work formerly performed by community residents, and openness with the public on school board matters.

The community in Thornton’s school board district is being denied their right to representation on issues concerning public education in this city. Contact Diane Bukowski at [email protected] for more information or details on how to make a contribution to cover legal costs.