Conflict continues in Benton Harbor, Michigan

Benton Harbor Rally Defends Community Leader, Condemns Brutality and Racism

Activists from across the state and neighboring cities say hands off Rev. Pinkney

By Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor
Pan-African News Wire

Benton Harbor, MI, 21 May, 2005 (PANW)--Activists from various Michigan cities and Chicago, came to this predominantly African-American city in the southwest region of the state to express their support for community leader, Rev. Edward Pinkney, who is facing prosecution on four felony charges and a misdemeanor that could result in twenty years imprisonment.

Berrien County Prosecutors filed the charges against Rev. Pinkney in the aftermath of a successful recall election on February 22 that removed Commissioner Glenn Yarbrough who is the brother of the former Mayor and a supporter of police chief Samuel Harris. County officials claim that Rev. Pinkney engaged in voter fraud by buying off people to support the recall and for influencing individual voters.

Rev. Pinkney, who is the executive director of the Black Autonomy Network of Community Organizers (BANCO) in Benton Harbor, has been an outspoken critic of the local political establishment and corporate elites. Supporters of Rev. Pinkney cite the history of racism and police brutality directed towards the people of Benton Harbor as the underlying causes of the economic plight of the city.

In June of 2003 the people of Benton Harbor rose up in a rebellion that lasted for three days and resulted in the deployment of the State Police. The outbreak occured in the aftermath of the death of a young African-American man who was chased on his motorcylce by the Berrian County police. The years of deprivation and poverty reached a boiling point in 2003. These developments in Benton Harbor drew national and international media coverage.

The May 21 rally, which took place at the Benton Harbor Public Library, was held in response to the April 18 arrest of Rev. Pinkney. Various organizations attended the support meeting including the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice (MECAWI), the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO), The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality (DCAPB), the League of Revolutionaries for a New America (LRNA), the Michigan Green Party, and the National Lawyers Guild (NLG).

In starting off the meeting Rev. Pinkney thanked the people who came out from the local community throughout the region. Reading from the Benton Harbor BANCO mission statement, Rev. Pinkney said the organization exists: "to help or force Berrien County to administer justice with fairness, equality, and integrity. To resolve matters for our community and in the courts in a timely manner.... to provide courtesy and proper service in a manner that is for public trust and confidence."

"What we have now is that we are fighting a war," Rev. Pinkney said. "It is the have versus the have-nots. Its the rich against the poor. We are here today to tell you that we are not going to take this anymore. This is just the beginning. This thing is bigger than what they think it is."

Carl Brown, a Benton Harbor activist then addressed the crowd: "I have met people here today from Ann Arbor, from Detroit. What is happening here is happening all over. So when people stand up and says enough is enough, God hears that cry. "

Later Attorney George Lyons said that "a judge has the responsibility to look at the constitution and determine that every person who comes into a courtroom can receive a fair trial." In legal papers filed recently on behalf of the Rev. Pinkney's defense they are requesting that the prosecutor and judge reconsider the charges against the defendant in light of possible conflicts of interests in the case. The defense is contending that the Berrien County Prosecutor's Office should have never become involved in the dispute over the recall election.

Marian Kramer, co-chair of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization from Highland Park spoke to the activists and requested that people from the Detroit area stand. She recognized MECAWI activist and labor leader David Sole for coordinating the transportation to Benton Harbor for the rally.

"Highland Park is a battleground area. Detroit is a battleground area. Benton Harbor we are here to support you because we understand that Benton Harbor is the hump on the camel back in fighting back against injustice and fighting back for our democracy. We are here today to be able to raise the struggle to a much higher level. Prior to us back in Alabama they had to take on the same government not just on a local level but on a national level. That we are beginning to do here in Benton Harbor."

Kramer continued by saying that: "They claim that we have democracy in this government we live under in the United States. But as soon as you make a step to defend your democracy in regard to what is happening here with the recall campaign, they tell you that you do not have the right to do that. As soon as you move to exercise those rights you find out that it is democracy for who, the rich, and not for us. It is time for us to understand that Benton Harbor is Detroit. And understand that Detroit is Benton Harbor. Highland Park is Benton Harbor. We got folks from Chicago and that Chicago is Benton Harbor. When injustice raises its ugly head we as members of the working class are going to be here to stomp it down."

Later Ron Scott, spokesperson for the Detroit Coaliton Against Police Brutality, said in reference to Rev. Pinkney that: "its good when you have ministers who not only preach the gospel but live the gospel. Its good when you hear people not just talking about the cross but are willing to bear the cross. Its good when you hear some lawyers talk about lawyering instead of lying. "

"We are in a struggle for our lives and it has to be a struggle of humanity. It has to be a struggle of the entire working class. It cannot be just a few or just a certain color. It has got to be all of us....When ever I come I see men of God standing here who are not afraid, not afraid. Because the first thing, and you know it Marian, that had to be dealt with in the South was the getting rid of fear. You cannot be afraid. If you don't have nothing you can't lose nothing. And if you don't try you can't get nothing. So what we are looking at today is a movement not only throughout this state, not only throughout the United States, but a movement, we're looking at a human rights movement," said Scott.

March around the police station

After the meeting of activists, there was a spirited march around the Benton Harbor Police Station. Demonstrators chanted "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!

Later the marchers chanted "hands off Rev. Pinkney." At the conclusion of the demonstration,
Rev. Pinkney appealed for ongoing support in the case. His defense lawyer has filed for a reconsideration of the charges. The Berrien County Prosecutor's Office has 14 days to respond to their request.

At present donations are needed for Rev. Pinkney's defense. Checks can be made payable to Attorney Tat Parish and sent in care of Rev. Edward Pinkney, 1940 Union Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022.

For more information on the case and other developments in Benton Harbor people can call (269) 925-0001.

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Violence erupts in Benton Harbor

Posted: 05/09/2005 04:21 pm
Last Updated: 05/09/2005 05:18 pm

Story filed by NewsCenter16 Reporter
Kimberly Torres

Benton Harbor, MI - Hundreds of people swarmed the streets of Benton Harbor Sunday night, causing police to enact their emergency plan. Police answered a disturbance call of teenagers fighting. Once police got to the scene hundreds of teens started throwing bottles and bricks at them.

As fighting erupted in the streets many residents feared the worst. Local resident April Campbell said, “It's scary, you don't want to see the kids get hurt.”

Some neighbors blame police. “It's not the neighborhood. If police get on job and do what they're supposed to, they won't have all the kids on the corner,” said resident Donte Long.

When asked why the teenagers would act like this, Benton Harbor Police Chief Samuel Harris says they're taking their cues from city leaders.

Police Chief Samuel Harris says it's city leaders who fuel the fire. “Some members of the city commission seem to want to run the police department and if they can't run it they want to defame it and these kids see that non-sense,” said Chief Harris.

Harris says those commission leaders need to backup the police in their mission to wipe out violence, but until then they will be prepared to respond every night.

There were no responses from the city commissioners, the mayor or the city manager in regard to Sunday night’s disturbance, but there is a city commission meeting Monday night at City Hall in Benton Harbor to discuss what happened.

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Disturbance in the streets of Benton Harbor

Posted: 05/09/2005 09:29 am

Benton Harbor, MI - Between 8 and 9 PM Sunday night, Benton Harbor police received calls of shots fired in a neighbor near the corner of McAllister and May Streets.

Officers responded and found several hundred people who threw bottles and bricks at them.

Police pulled out of the area for their own safety.

Officials say they believe the calls of shot fired were false and were used to draw them into the crowded streets. They also say they now have a plan to deal with such situations.

Benton Harbor Police Chief Samuel Harris says, "We believe this is an orchestrated effort by a group of young people and that their intent is to draw the police into a negative situation. We have a plan. We are prepared for it. We withdrew our vehicles for the moment and we activated our emergency plan.”

Police enacted their emergency plan, which enlisted the help of state, county and local police, and cleared the area.

Chief Harris said the majority of the disturbance was caused by juveniles between the ages of 14 and 18.