Support Benton Harbor leader now!
Benton Harbor, Michigan, burst onto the national news in June of 2003 when hundreds of unemployed African American young people rose up in anger after a 28 year old resident, Terrance Shurn, died as a result of police action. This was only the latest of a plague of incidents of racial violence and police brutality over many years. In 2004-2005 Rev. Pinkney and his organization, BANCO, exercised their democratic rights by working in a successful recall campaign against a person who did not represent the community's interests, a corrupt city commissioner backed by the Whirlpool Corporation, the largest employer in the area. Then, in an attempt to circumvent the will of the people, the vote was overturned by a local judge. In a further outrage, Rev. Pinkney was arrested on vote fraud charges. He faces a possible sentence of 20 years.
Write, phone, email Governor Jennifer Granholm and demand that the persecution of Rev. Pinkney be stopped. Flood her fax and telephone. Don't let her rest.
Write: Gov.Jennifer Granholm, PO Box 30013, Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: 517-335-7858 or 517-373-3400
Fax: 517-335-6863
Email: http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331--,00.html
