AUGUST 2008, VOLUME 35, NO. 8 DONATION $1

Norwalk Furniture employees gathered about 50 employees and headed up in a caravan to Comerica headquarters in Detroit with one message: “Norwalk Furniture Calling, Answer Your Phone.” PHOTO /cOurTeSy Of THe nOrwalk reflecTOr CRISIS IN THE HEARTLAND Story On Ohio Plant Closing Stuns A Community Page 7

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Page 3 — Cover Story: Financial Collapse Shows Depth of Crisis People’s Tribune 40 Years Page 11 — The Elections and Corporate Power 1968-2008

Rev. Pinkney. See Pgs. 4 & 12 Page 12 — Pastor Fighting Whirlpool Jailed PHOTO /DaymOnJHarTley.cOm for Paraphrasing Bible EDITORIAL The People’s Tribune is devoted to the proposition that an economic system that can’t or won’t feed, clothe and house its The Fight For Health Care people ought to be and will be changed. To that end, this paper is a tribune of the people. It is the voice of millions struggling As A Human Right for survival. It strives to educate politically those millions on the basis of their own experience. It is a tribune to bring them to- The health care system in this coun- back care and shifting costs to the work- the dispossessed, this will advance the gether, to create a vision of a better world, try is in deep crisis. A broad movement ers. Public hospitals and publicly sub- cause of all the workers in the country. and a strategy to achieve it. for change is developing that will ulti- sidized health care programs are being In the health care arena, the demand mately demand health care for all as a privatized or eliminated in the name of of the dispossessed is for quality health We fi nd ourselves at a historic moment as human right. The real question is how boosting corporate profi ts. Meanwhile, care provided to all as a human right. labor-replacing technology leads us on a do we engage in the fi ght for health care the cost of care continues to skyrocket. The fi ght for a single-payer system path toward the decisive reconstruction of in a way that keeps it on track toward Advancing technology and a glo- takes us along the path to health care society. Who will win — the capitalists or the ultimate goal of health care for ev- balized economy mean the mass of as a human right. We should be wary the growing mass of poor — will depend eryone? We need to rally around the formerly stably employed workers that of proposals that keep the private insur- on winning the hearts and minds of the people to create a society whose fruits struggle to create a single-payer system, benefi t all. where the private insurance companies are eliminated, the government is the We offer our pages as a vehicle for the sole payer for health care, and everyone new ideas rooted in our reality, and to be has guaranteed access to quality care. the voice of those who seek to raise the Historically in the U.S., health care consciousness of society. Let us gather has been provided as part of a social con- our collective experience, intelligence and tract between employers and workers. It commitment to bring forth a vision that was intended to keep workers healthy so changes America into a society “by the they could go on working and creating people, of the people, for the people.” profi t for employers. Currently there are PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE EDITORIAL POLICY: various tiers of health coverages from Articles that are unsigned, such as the cover different sources: employer-provided story and editorials, refl ect the views of the health insurance; people paying for editorial board. Bylined articles refl ect the health care out of their own pockets; views of the authors, and may or may not public hospitals and public programs refl ect the views of the editorial board. like Medicaid and Medicare; and char- ity. But regardless of the source of cov- Deadlines for articles and art: The deadline erage, at the heart of this system is the for articles, photographs and other art is the assumption that the employers needed fi rst of each month for the issue that comes the labor of the workers. Plus, of course, out at the beginning of the following month. there is money to be made in the health For example, the deadline for the June is- sue is May 1. Articles should be as short as care system itself by doctors, hospitals, possible, and no longer than 600 words. We insurers, suppliers and drug companies. reserve the right to edit articles to conform Today, more and more produc- was once at the heart of the U.S. work- ers intact and that in one way or another to space limitations. tion is done by computers and robots. ing class is being replaced by a rap- would force individual workers to take This means fewer and fewer work- idly growing class of the dispossessed. responsibility for paying for their own People’s Tribune Editor: Bob lee ers are needed, and corporations don’t These are the permanently unemployed, care. A single-payer system eliminates provide health care for workers they part-time, contingency and low-wage the private health insurers, guarantees Editorial Staff: cliff Bailey, Bob Brown, don’t need. And globalization means workers, and they have few if any ben- coverage to all, and makes the govern- nelson Peery, Sandra reid the corporations are competing glob- efi ts. Increasingly, the system can no ment responsible for paying for care. Photo Editor: Daymon J. Hartley ally for markets, and the workers are longer provide workers with the neces- Not only will single-payer itself be a step competing globally for jobs. The result sities of life, including health care. In forward, but the fi ght for it will increas- People’s Tribune, P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, Illinois, 60654 is that wages are driven down and ben- the end, only a new society that distrib- ingly bring the movement up against a e-mail: [email protected] efi ts like health care are eliminated in utes the necessities of life according system that is impoverishing us all. This Phone: 773-486-3551 the global “race to the bottom.” At the to need, not ability to pay, can satisfy struggle will allow those fi ghting to see Fax: 773-486-3552 same time, the businesses involved in their needs. The dispossessed cannot the necessity and possibility of creat- web: www.peoplestribune.org the health care system itself—as inves- compromise, because they are fi ght- ing a new society free of want, where tors, payers, suppliers or providers— ing for survival. This means that if we each of us can achieve our full potential. Publisher: People’s Tribune push to boost their profi ts by cutting base our struggle on the demands of iSSn# 1081-4787 Reach us at: Chicago Why Revolutionaries Need A Press 773-486-3551 From the Editors [email protected] We are sometimes asked “Why do revolutionaries need a press?” The answer has to do with this moment in Detroit history. People are struggling just to get the basic necessities of life. Historical forces beyond anyone’s control 313-438-6115 have set the stage for a new society to be built, but from this point on, how things turn out depends on what Oakland people think. This means that those of us who are seeking fundamental change are engaged in a battle of ideas, P.O. Box 22084 a struggle to win the hearts and minds of the people. If we don’t raise the consciousness of the people and unite Oakland, Ca 94623 them around a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it, then we’ll fail in our effort to build a just and [email protected] free society. To win the battle of ideas, we need a press. Visit us on the web at www.peoplestribune.org

2 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | AUGUST 2008 www.peoplestribune.org COVER STORY FINANCIAL COLLAPSE SHOWS DEPTH OF CRISIS: The people must chart a new course

ized, i.e. taken over and put under gov- wealth under capitalism. Thus we see leadership we are headed for war and ernment ownership or control. If the mountains of wealth evaporating while fascism. Ultimately, war is the way U.S. ever had to take on the full debt the value of human life, as evidenced they will attempt to resolve the crisis. of these companies, the U.S. public by the sheer number of people living in We, the people, must fi ght for a new debt, which already exceeds $9.4 tril- the streets, is driven to zero. The bot- society where the marvelous technol- lion, would almost double at a stroke. tom line is that workers are steadily ogy is used to guarantee that everyone A chorus of appeals to reign in the losing their jobs to new technology. has the necessities of life. Such a soci- two monster companies circulated for With little or no money, workers can- ety enlists the social contribution of ev- years. Government offi cials turned a not consume what the robots produce. eryone. It is a world worth fi ghting for. blind eye to their questionable account- This destroys the market for what is pro- What can we do right now? Even- ing errors of around $5.5 billion. A duced, and the market economy begins tually the government will be forced to politician trying to look into their books to collapse. We can’t continue to have nationalize the big fi nancial institutions Fannie Mae headquarters. was told to stop holding hearings. “Fan a market economy when there is no to attempt to stabilize the economy. This and Fred have been protected by an al- market. Under these conditions, only a provides opportunities to force the gov- PHOTO /flicker.cOm liance of Capital Hill and Wall Street,” cooperative economy will allow people ernment to nationalize them in the pub- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two of says Paul A. Gigot of the Wall Street to survive. Replacing the capitalist sys- lic’s interests rather than in the interests the country’s largest mortgage compa- Journal. “They have been able to pur- tem with a new society based on a co- of the corporations. Ultimately, society nies, are together, $5.3 trillion in debt. chase political immunity by disguis- operative economy is the only way out. must take over these giant corporations. It They made headlines when their stock ing [their] vast profi t-making machine If we continue to follow capitalist is the only way a new society can be built. tumbled to one-half its value amid fears in the cloak of ‘affordable housing.’ they would not survive rising mortgage What’s behind the “rescue” plan is defaults. Congress is now debating a fear that the collapse of these compa- taxpayer bail out to the tune of $25 bil- nies will threaten the stability of the lion, and an open line of credit for the global economy — and ultimately the companies. There is speculation that the capitalist system itself. The U.S. re- companies will eventually be national- lies on borrowed money to keep the economy functioning. Asia, Europe and Russia have hundreds of billions Help Us of dollars invested in Fannie and Fred- die. The U.S. fears that investors will 40th Continue perceive that their money is unsafe, Year Telling spurring a global selling spree of these The Truth securities, with all of the dire conse- quences. Yet the U.S. capitalists are Those of us who seek funda- between a rock and a hard place. They mental social change are engaged could raise interest rates to encourage bond sales. But this would spur infl a- in a battle to win the hearts and tion. One thing is clear: while millions minds of the people. This can’t of families suffer foreclosures and join be done without a revolutionary the ranks of the already homeless, our press. For 40 years, the People’s tax dollars are going to the corporations. Tribune has brought our readers the stories of those who are strug- SOLUTIONS gling to move forward in a world where corporate power is threat- We must get at the root cause of the ening to crush them. Along with economic crisis or we will continue to Judith of the Moratorium Now Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions those stories, we try to offer some be subject to the capitalist’s “solutions.” outside of Bank of America in downtown Detroit on July 22, 2008. strategic perspective to help put the Today, robots and computers are elimi- PHOTO /alan POllOck struggle in context and point the nating human labor, the source of all way toward victory. We need your help to continue doing this. The People’s Tribune gets no grants SUBSCRIBE TO THE PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE! ORDER BUNDLES and has an all-volunteer staff. We rely completely on subscriptions Name: and donations from our readers Please send me a one-year individual subscription [ $20 ] to enable us to go on telling the Please send me a one-year institutional subscription Address: truth. Please donate whatever you [ $25 ] can. See the subscription/donation Please send me a bundle of _____ PTs City/State/Zip: form on the right. You can also do- [ at 25 cents per paper ] nate using Pay Pal on our web site, Phone/Email: www.peoplestribune.org. Enclosed is my donation of: People’s Tribune $20 $50 $75 $100 $Other ______My check or money order made payable to “People’s Tribune” is enclosed. Editorial Board Mail this coupon to: People’s Tribune, P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654-3524

www.peoplestribune.org AUGUST 2008 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 3 This column depends on articles, comments, and criticisms from readers. Feel free to contribute, feel free. Contact us: c/o Boxholder, SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION P.O. Box 720821 • San Jose, California 95172 or by e-mail at spirit@ peoplestribune.org. Religious Freedom For All Americans Is Threatened In Pinkney Persecution

By Sandy Perry article contained no such expression. Church of Christ. Rev. While the words from Deuteronomy Wright preached virtu- Incredibly, on June 26, Rev. Edward are unquestionably harsh, the author of ally the same Deuter- Pinkney of Benton Harbor, Michigan, was the quotation is not the mild-mannered onomy 28 message to sentenced to 3-10 years in state prison. Rev. Pinkney, but the Almighty Him- American government His crime? Preaching the Word of God in self. At no time did Rev. Pinkney state, offi cials after the terror- a newspaper article in November, 2007. suggest, or imply that he, Rev. Pinkney, ist attacks on 9/11: you Judge Dennis Wiley of Berrien County would commit any of these actions. reap what you sow. For ruled that Pinkney’s use of a quotation The very idea that a human being can this he was isolated, pil- from Deuteronomy 28 was a threat and cause another to be cursed by God or loried, and denounced therefore a violation of his probation. to be smitten with consumption, fever, by the media and Dem- Benton Harbor was once a thriv- and infl ammation is patently ridiculous. ocratic and Republi- ing industrial city that is now suffering A review of Biblical history indi- can politicians alike. from the economic desolation common cates that Rev. Pinkney’s words were Preaching Bibli- to many Rust Belt communities. Rev. not only unthreatening, but scriptur- cal truth to government Pinkney is a longtime community lead- ally appropriate. It is precisely the role power has now become er who was convicted in 2007 of “voter of the preacher, prophet, and teacher a crime in America. It fraud” in a hotly contested trial that to warn the people and their leaders of will continue to be so for many viewed as racially motivated and divine consequences for sinful actions. as long as we allow Rev. fraught with constitutional irregularities. Jesus did so repeatedly. So did Paul. Pinkney to remain in In his controversial newspaper ar- In fact, prophetic warnings of impend- prison. The last time this ticle, Rev. Pinkney sharply criticized ing disaster are designed not to fo- happened was during the trial judge Alfred Butzbaugh and stated ment bloodshed, but rather to diminish years before the Civil that his actions were contrary to God’s and avert it by prompting repentance. War, when abolitionist commandments. He then quoted from Deuteronomy 28 is simply a strong- preachers and publish- Deuteronomy 28 on blessings and curs- ly worded, Old Testament-style state- ers were suppressed and es, including verses 15-16, 18, 22, and ment of the Biblical truth that we even murdered. It is no 45 to warn of the consequences for dis- reap what we sow. The government accident that it is once obedience to God. (The article appeared can try to punish and persecute the again primarily the Af- Jobs with justice rally. in the November issue of the Peoples bearers of this message, but it can- rican-American church PHOTO /HarVey finkle Tribune http://www.peoplestribune. not reverse or repeal a law of God. that is being targeted org/PT.2007.11/PT.2007.11.18.html). The sentencing of Rev. Pinkney is fi rst. Let us pray that the A threat by defi nition is “an expres- ominous also because it follows the current crisis has the same result now Sandy Perry is Outreach Minister at sion of intent to infl ict evil, injury, or well-publicized attack on Rev. Jeremi- as then: an upsurge of the American CHAM Deliverance Ministry in San damage.” It is clear that Rev. Pinkney’s ah Wright of Chicago’s Trinity United people in defense of human freedom. Jose, California.

SPEAKERS FOR A NEW AMERICA Our speakers bring a message of hope and the possibility of creating a new society whose wealth benefi ts all. At left are books from some or our speakers. Email [email protected] or visit our website at www.speakersforanewamerica.com

Spirit of the Revolution

Spirit of the Revolution, a collection of spiritual essays by various writers. $5 - Send check to Speakers for a New America, c/o PT, PO Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654-3524

4 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | AUGUST 2008 www.peoplestribune.org Without Housing, Without Rights

By Paul Boden As local governments have become pear to apply equally to all people in for which there is a distressing need more and more hard-pressed to shelter a community. In fact, however, en- among [those] of our population [who In 1933, when over a million – much less house – this ever-increas- forcement is very much impacted by are] ill-housed.” Our current presidential Americans were homeless, President ing homeless population, many have skin color, disability or appearance. candidates must be urged to do no less. Roosevelt’s New Deal made their eco- turned to draco- nomic and social well-being a federal nian measures responsibility. In 2008, an estimated to solve their 3.5 million Americans will live without “homeless prob- housing; homeless children in school lems.” The most number more than 900,000 according to common public the Department of Education. Ironical- space and activ- ly, in this election year – which marks ity restrictions the 75th anniversary of the New Deal are those aimed – neither major party nor presidential at camping, candidate has acknowledged a federal sitting, lying responsibility. It is time that they do so. or trespassing The federal government created the on either pub- contemporary crisis of mass homeless- lic or private ness by cutting and refusing to restore land, panhan- billions and billions of dollars in fund- dling, sleeping, ing for affordable housing programs. blocking the Since 1982, every federal plan to address sidewalk, jay- homelessness has failed because every walking and plan has been based on the assumption possessing “sto- that something was wrong with the peo- len property” ple who were fi nding themselves with- (shopping carts out housing. Every plan has focused on and milk crates) individuals; FEMA emergency shelter – to name just plans, HUD Continuum of Care plans a few. Just like and 10-Year Plans to End Homelessness anti-Okie and as spearheaded by the Bush administra- Jim Crow laws tion’s Interagency Council on Home- of the past, lo- Near Canal Street and South Peters, New Orleans. This building is home to fi ve men. lessness all identify homeless people cal govern- as “the problem” that needs fi xing. ment programs PHOTO /new OrleanS marJOrie maTTHewS www.ilOVeeVelyn.OrG The reemergence of massive home- designed to lessness is unrelated to any lack of out- remove “unde- reach or case management. The simple sirable” people from their communi- 2008 marks the 75th anniversary of fact is that homelessness reappeared ties violate civil and human rights. the New Deal. FDR used the power of Paul Boden is the Executive Director because funding for federal affordable This nationwide practice has es- his offi ce to marshal the resources of the of Western Regional Advocacy Project. housing programs has been cut by $54 caped Civil Rights protections because federal government to address the hous- www.wraphome.org billion a year (in 2004 constant dollars) on their face, these programs are not ing, health care, educational and econom- since 1978. The number of people without clearly discriminatory. Local laws are ic security needs of poor and homeless housing has increased steadily since then. often drafted in such a way as to ap- people. He lobbied for “decent homes

Moving Onward: WHAT DO YOU THINK From Racial Division OF THE PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE? to Class Unity by Brooke Heagerty and Dear Readers, Nelson Peery The People’s Tribune is in need of your feedback on the paper. What Send $10 for each copy to do you like about it? What do you want to see improved? What do you Speakers for A New America think about the monthly cover story and the editorial? Please send your c/o People’s Tribune ideas! Most importantly, how can you help develop the paper? Email your P.O. Box 3524 comments to [email protected], call tollfree at 800-691-6888 and leave a message, or mail to PO Box 3524, Chicago, Il. 60654-3524. Chicago, IL 60654-3524 People’s Tribune Editorial Board

www.peoplestribune.org AUGUST 2008 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 5 Save Our Public Housing! By Anita Beaty lic housing unit that was to be demol- and Lynne Griever ished, the responsibility for ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable of HUD APPROVES DEMOLI- our neighbors are housed fell to the local TION OF HOUSING UNITS: HUD boards, commissions and governments. has just approved the destruction of GENTRIFICATION BECOMES 3,000 units of public housing, nearly PUBLIC POLICY: Coincidentally, all remaining public housing in Atlanta, Bowen Homes sits on valuable acres Georgia. The battle has raged for nearly near the proposed Beltline, surrounded two years to save the homes of 9,600 by plans for single family residential families and individuals who are be- developments, upscale condominiums, ing displaced by the Atlanta Housing shopping centers and other amenities Authority in order to sell the land to that will displace more than 620 families developers. Five complexes were de- who live in a community that the Atlan- stroyed last year. Next in line for evacu- ta Housing Authority is destroying, with ation is the 600-unit Bowen Homes. no guarantee for replacement housing. A NATIONAL EMERGENCY: RESIDENTS FRIGHTENED Sadly, we’ve seen this process in ma- AND INTIMIDATED: In a recent in- jor cities all over the country. HUD has terview, Shirley Hightower, President Bowen Homes in Atlanta. A mother waits with her baby while they empty her spent billions to demolish hundreds of of the Bowen Homes Resident Asso- home. The Atlanta Housing Authority’s recent interest in enforcing com- thousands of housing units for extreme- ciation, said “The senior residents are pliance standards has drastically reduced the number of families that are ly low income families in , very upset. They don’t want to be sepa- eligible for vouchers. San Francisco, Houston, St. Louis, Kan- rated. Most of their family and friends PHOTO /cOPyriGHT 2008 BOuBacar Sarr sas City, New Orleans, Boston, Detroit, have passed, and they are family to each other. They have their own routine and , San Francisco, Washington... eight months, “We have strong research thus reinforcing existing concentrated their own life. They’ve been here for and the list continues to grow. City after that supports the claim that public hous- poverty and residential segregation. years. Their grandchildren are here.” city fi ghts the battle, on a local level with ing demolition, without one for one A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND ES- AHA announced that of all the fami- no oversight and little if any enforce- replacement, violates the Fair Housing TABLISHED: “This is a war... and we lies still living in Bowen Homes, a few ment of existing regulations from HUD. Act and Equal Protection guaranteed can’t fi ght without resources,” Jones more than 200 have qualifi ed for “Hous- In the United States 95 million peo- under the 14th Amendment of the Unit- explains. “The situation here in Atlanta ing Choice Vouchers,” but every day ple have housing problems, according ed States Constitution. We have the op- presents an opportunity for a test case more people are disqualifi ed and get to Habitat for Humanity. The National portunity to argue constitutional claims to challenge the demolition and elimi- word that they will not get a voucher. Low Income Housing Coalition’s Clos- that could make signifi cant changes.” nation of scarce affordable and low Widespread raids and harassment of ing Door reports that nowhere in the A Georgia Tech study reports a defi - income housing.” In order to support tenant leaders take place every day. Po- country will a minimum wage earner be cit of approximately 218,000 affordable the litigation and eviction protection lice harassment takes the place of police able to afford a two-bedroom apartment housing units in Atlanta. A study from for residents, the Metro Atlanta Task protection as residents barricade them- at market rent. Incredibly, 100 million Dr. Deirdre Oakley of Georgia State Uni- Force for the Homeless has established selves in their units, afraid to go out. people are homeless and 1.6 billion live versity maps voucher housing in Metro a Fair Housing Legal Defense Fund. See CAN WE WIN THIS BATTLE? in substandard housing across the globe. Atlanta and shows that a majority is con- www.homelesstaskforce.org for details. According to Attorney Lindsay Jones, When we lost the federal requirement centrated in poor black neighborhoods Please help us win this one! for one-for-one replacement of any pub- who has worked on this case for over

VISION AND THE FIGHT FOR A NEW SOCIETY This column is a place to debate why a cooperative society is a practical solution to the problems people are fi ghting out. Send your thoughts to PT, PO Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654 or email [email protected] THE FOUR FREEDOMS Our government betrayed the millions four essential human freedoms. of service men and women who fought → The fi rst is freedom of speech and ex- for the future against the onslaught of pression everywhere in the world. international fascism during World War → The second is freedom of every per- II. Right before the U.S. entered the war, son to worship God in his own way President Roosevelt summed up what everywhere in the world. we were fi ghting for in a speech given → The third is freedom from want on January 6th, 1941. Known as the which, translated into world terms, Four Freedoms, it inspired resistance means economic understandings to tyranny everywhere. Today, as our which will secure to every nation a government prepares to spend $515.4 healthy peacetime life for its inhab- billion on war, want and fear clutch itants everywhere in the world. America’s vitals. Seven hundred con- → The fourth is freedom from fear centration camps await the opportune which, translated into world terms, moment to lock up those who dare still means a world-wide reduction of stand for our goals of 1941. We re-pub- armaments to such a point and in March for Our Lives lish this Address as it is still the basic vi- such a thorough fashion that no September 2, 2008- 4 PM Mears Park, St. Paul, sion to which America dedicated itself. nation will be in a position to com- Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign “In the future days, which we mit an act of physical aggression http://www.economichumanrights.org seek to make secure, we look for- against any neighbor anywhere in Ph: 612-821-2364 ward to a world founded upon the world.”

6 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | AUGUST 2008 www.peoplestribune.org “God! What Am I Going To Do?” Plant Closing Stuns A Community, And Is Symbolic Of The Nationwide Crisis

we are “in the midst of a perfect storm” has closed all of its banks in Ohio and there are not even 580 private sector for the economy of this country with has demanded that Norwalk Furniture jobs left in Norwalk that anyone could the homebuilding industry crisis and liquidate to pay back a loan. A loan that live off of at all! Workers at Norwalk the foreclosure crisis affecting Nor- they were paying! It has refused other Furniture couldn’t even get through walk Furniture. “No-one could see this investors, and has been demanding full to the unemployment office to file- be coming,” Mayor Sue Lesch declared. liquidation. More than 50 workers gath- cause they were so overwhelmed. In a gesture of solidarity, workers from ered, on their own, and took a bus up What we need right now is a vi- Janesville Acoustics, an auto parts plant to Comerica Headquarters in Detroit to sion. How is this community going in Norwalk, went up to the stage. Rob protest. There is still a chance for the to provide for its people? When you Rhineberger, president of Local 1422, workers that the company will reopen. read about losing your job in the Sat- spoke for the delegation. “Our members Along with the news of Norwalk urday paper, how are you going keep are here to support you. The mayor said Furniture closing came an announce- a roof over your head, feed your fam- Norfolk sign. not to be too political, but we feel that the ment that Tenneco is laying off half of ily, or get healthcare? If our elected PHOTO /Scott Summerlin way you found out about what was hap- its existing workforce. The jobs are go- leaders didn’t see this coming, we bet- pening was wrong.” His comment was ing to Mexico, increasing the total job ter get together and start talking about By Robert Kurtycz, Scott greeted with tremendous applause and loss to 580.What will happen when what is possible. The vision for our Summerlin and Pat Saunders cries of “thank you” from the audience. another workplace shuts down? Who’s future will come from the workers, not But the mayor’s “perfect storm” was job is next to go? There aren’t 580 the politicians and the corporations. NORWALK, OHIO – “God! What here before July 18, 2008. It started good paying jobs open in Norwalk. In For more information, email Bob am I going to do?” That’s how Scott back in the 90’s with the assets purchase fact the argument could be made that Kurtycz at [email protected]. Hite reacted when he learned his job and closure of Eureka Coach, Boxboard was gone. Hite worked for 21 years as Packaging, and later Industrial Powder an upholsterer on the set-up line on first Coating, all unionized. Janesville has shift at Norwalk Furniture, the main also closed one of their plants here, caus- employer in this community in north- ing more layoffs. The sale of Geotrac, a east Ohio. When the work day ended on new technology company, by its owner Friday, July 18, the 515 workers at Nor- and closure by the buyer, when there was walk Furniture all thought they would another buyer who would have kept it be back at work on Monday. They were open,put more people on the street. This wrong. On Saturday morning, July 19, is not a “perfect storm” but a ten year the management at Norwalk Furni- Katrina disaster, whose flood surge has ture had a statement published in the been drowning the dreams of people in local newspaper announcing that the the Norwalk area for a long time. Fami- plant was shutting down. This was the lies are living paycheck to paycheck and only notification the workers received. payday loan to payday loan. Home fore- Norwalk Furniture workers held closures in the area are at levels never a meeting at the local high school on imagined. And the banks are cutting the July 23rd, inviting local officials to credit, credit that has become a necessity Hundreds of Norwalk Furniture workers at community meeting about plant come and speak, hoping to hear good of workers to make it through the month. closing. news. The mayor of Norwalk, argued In fact, that is exactly what happened PHOTO /Scott Summerlin that the reason for the closing was that to Norwalk Furniture. Comerica Bank

ICE And Local Police Seize 58 Immigrant Workers In Ohio Raids By Pat Saunders, Scott take care of her children. Two workers said that many of the workers come to answer these questions. But what hap- Summerlin and Robert Kurtycz were taken into custody at the restau- the U.S. out of desperation because the pened on July 23rd is not the answer. rant in Norwalk. A total of 58 workers trade policies have destroyed the local NORWALK, OHIO – It was a scene were seized and taken into detention, economy in Mexico. He cited a friend that could be part of any B-Movie star- including four women, from all of the whose farm was wiped out because ring Chuck Norris; ICE Agents clothed locations on July 23. At the same time, of cheap grain imports from the U.S. in black, scramble from vans that slide on the other side of town, Norwalk Fur- Casa Fiesta has become a part of to a stop in the parking lot of the Casa niture workers gathered at a community this community in the noble tradi- Fiesta, a local family owned restaurant meeting about the closing of their plant. tion of Horatio Alger — by hard work, business on US 250 North that has lo- An employee of Casa Fiesta inter- good food and good service. They just cations in six other northern Ohio cit- viewed on July 25, said that while he (a opened a new restaurant in Norwalk this ies. The agents swarmed into the local second generation citizen) does not agree year and it has a tremendous following restaurant. ICE agents and officers from with entering the country illegally, that it in the area. The question is what will the sheriff’s department and the Nor- is ironic that so much effort is made by happen to families? Families where the walk Police Department executed search the government to detain folks who only father has documents, but the mother ICE Agents conduct immigration warrants at the Norwalk restaurant and want to work. While just up the road in doesn’t? Or when neither parent has raid on Casa Fiesta Restaurant in the other Casa Fiesta stores. In addition, Milan, Ohio, 65 workers were being laid documents but the children are born Norwalk, OH. they also raided the owner’s home in off by Tenneco, a large US corporation here? These families have been a part who moved their work to a plant in Mexi- of Norwalk’s culture and community for PHOTO /courtesy of the Norwalk Norwalk, taking his wife into custody Reflector and then later released her so she could co and the government does nothing. He more than a decade. It is up to us to

www.peoplestribune.org AUGUST 2008 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 7 Testing for High Stakes Looting

By Steve Miller take money out of the classroom and hire private corporate educational ser- The US of A likes to brag that there vices. This policy has serious effects are no classes in America. Of course only on schools that teach working class banks and corporations regularly get kids, both rural and urban, since the billion-dollar bail-outs while the people threat is that the government will cut they lay off get cut off of unemploy- off the Title I funds that these schools ment and then welfare. One of the re- alone depend on. If the goal were to ally nasty examples of class politics is identify and help struggling children, what is being done to the public schools. money would go into these schools, Though their children go to elite instead of be removed from them. private schools, CEOs, billionaires and their hired politicians work overtime to Opening the Door to Privatization set punitive education policies for the children of the working class. No coun- There is absolutely no evidence try in the world forces children to un- whatsoever that these testing regimes dergo a constant regime of testing like improve student learning since virtually the United States. Many schools now all of the tests are unscientific. Educa- test their kids 8 or 9 times a semester tor Peter Henry describes the tests this with tests devised by corporations. way: “…far from being a reliable and Once one test is over, they begin to valid measure of student learning, stan- Flint, Michigan - Sue Gladstone teaches fourth grade at Washington Elemen- prepare for the next. Such testing sel- dardized tests are, in fact, the equivalent tary School. dom occurs in private schools (surprise, of Enron’s stock certificates, sold as a PHOTO /JIMWESTPHOTO.COM surprise!), where the focus is more on panacea to the equivalent of Katrina enriching the curriculum and creat- victims stranded in a flood of inequal- ing exciting educational experiences. ity on America’s rooftops, produced by ness Roundtable, a huge force for school’s test scores are published in After September 11, Bush made a the equivalent of America’s subprime privatization, completely agrees, the newspapers. Now corporations that number of ominous statements. The pushers – not because they are effective “In sum, NCLB represents an enor- specialize in financial speculation have first was that the progressive agenda and accomplish what they are meant mous challenge to the status quo in a way to determine the “value” of each was OFF the table. This meant that the to – but because they create lucrative public education and has the potential school and school district. Suddenly historic demand for equal rights to a profits while placing an expanding bur- to create a major opening for entrepre- Congressional “experts” (none of whom quality education was no longer under den around the necks of people trying to neurs inside and outside of the public dare to take high stakes tests themselves) consideration. The second was that his stay afloat in America’s ‘survival system.” (Educational Entrepreneur- are proclaiming that a teacher’s “val- education plan – No Child Left Behind of the fittest’ mileu.” (Peter Henry, ship: Realities, Challenges, Possibili- ue added” is measured by test scores! (NCLB) – was definitely ON the table. “Enron+Katrina+Subprime = Stan- ties, edited by Fredrick M. Hess, p. 80) NCLB demands that schools that do dardized Testing”, December 15, 2007) Testing creates a market for corpo- Article continues on bottom of Page 9. not meet extremely difficult test levels Frederick M. Hess of the Busi- rate education investment since each

Who’s Running the Government? Paulson Quarterbacking Shows Wall Street’s Washington Front By Dave Ransom likes to keep its hold on the reins of gov- chestrated the March bailout of Bear half a trillion dollars of public money. ernment well hidden. That makes it eas- Sterns, another big investment bank. To carry this off, Paulson was this Joke going around Washington: ier for Americans to believe the govern- To contain that crisis, Paulson time forced to go to Congress. During George W. Bush may be president of the ment is of, for, and by the people – and brought top investment bankers to- his weekend blitz, he had lined up the United States, but Henry Paulson is CEO. is not the government of the capitalists. gether in New York with key financial Democratic leadership, and President Paulson, of course, is secretary of Goldman Sachs has something of a people from Washington and hammered Bush immediately endorsed the plan. the treasury and past head of global in- lock on Washington. The CEO who pre- out a billion-dollar bailout backed by Despite its being an unusually combat- vestment bank Goldman Sachs. And he ceded Paulson at Goldman was Bush’s expanded powers of the Federal Re- ive election year, Congress closed ranks was quarterback of the March bailout of top economic adviser. Before taking serve. Those powers were at best ques- behind Wall Street and passed this ep- Bear Sterns. And it was he, not President command at Treasury, Paulson got ad- tionably legal and were essentially cre- ochal legislation in less than two weeks. Bush, who went before the cameras that vice from a another ex-Goldman CEO, ated by decree. Paulson was pledging was clear about Sunday in mid July to announce the plan Robert Rubin, who had been secretary public dollars to guarantee Wall Street what was happening. In a post-vote to save Fannie May and Freddy Mac. of the treasury under Clinton. And fortunes — and to prop up the global play-by-play it reported that “financiers Indeed, Paulson exemplifies the Paulson has surrounded himself with system which creates and protects them. and public-policy makers” had forged “a great shift in power and policy under- a cadre of Goldman execs at Treasury. In July, Fanny and Freddy — which bipartisan front to address the most se- way in Washington, with Wall Street between them hold nearly than half of vere economic tempest in a generation.” taking direct control of the government MELTDOWN America’s home mortgages — were How severe a tempest is Wall Street during what is perhaps the capitalist facing the same meltdown. Paulson facing? Paulson himself told the Times system’s most fundamental crisis. And In fact, what Paulson has been doing again rounded up the usual suspects and that the risk was “systemic” — that the bailouts he is orchestrating — with as secretary of the treasury exposes just hammered out a patchwork solution. the whole superstructure of financial the support of both Republicans and how Wall Street is taking over and revo- capitalism could come tumbling down. Democrats — make clear that every- lutionizing the government (the “state”) BIPARTISAN FRONT And his quarterbacking of the crisis day Americans will pay a heavy price. in what is something akin to a coup d’etat. illustrates clearly that – with the support That Wall Street’s secretary of the Wall Street’s coup is an attempt to solve Again, the bailout required creat- of both political parties — capital is open- treasury has become so prominent in the financial crisis of global capitalism. ing new government powers, this time ly remaking the American state so as to Washington, eclipsing even the presi- The plan for Fannie Mae and Freddy giving Paulson (as secretary of the trea- save its skin — while the rest of us pay the dent, shows just how serious the finan- Mac was Paulson’s second big week- sury) the authority to cover Fanny and price and lose our rights in the process. cial crisis has become. Capital usually end coup, the first being when he- or Freddy’s bad debts with as much as

8 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | AUGUST 2008 www.peoplestribune.org To Oppose War is Patriotic, Says Veteran Ron Kovic

By Marshall Blesofsky rorists in Afghanistan. He was sent to Long Beach, CA Iraq, instead. And five days after arriv- ing there, he was shot in the chest and “Born on the Fourth of July” is a 1989 severely wounded. Thomas Young’s movie starring . The screen- story is told in a documentary film called play for this movie is based on the auto- “Body of War” by filmmaker Ellen biography of Ron Kovic and co-written Spiro and television host Phil Donahue. by him. Ron Kovic was a gung-ho ma- The saga of this 24-year-old’s ex- rine who volunteered to serve his coun- perience with his injuries, both physi- try and, like the many Iraq and Afghani- cal and psychological, within the over- stan service people, he tried to “bring whelmed VA system is heart wrenching. democracy to Vietnam.” On his second Thomas Young becomes an advocate tour of duty 40 years ago, he was shot for wounded veterans and a peace ac- and paralyzed from his mid-chest down. tivist. Most remarkable is the process He became and is an anti-war activist. of this veteran becoming aware and Kovic talked on the an- Ron Kovic. conscious of the economic and politi- Thomas Young, who was wounded in niversary of his wounding: cal system that makes war necessary. Iraq. “…I was shot and paralyzed from my PHOTO /WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, He is an example of the young veterans COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG mid-chest down during my second tour PHOTO /JEFF PATERSON, NOT IN OUR NAME of duty in Vietnam. It is a date that I can by the government to care for these In Iraq alone, US forces never forget, a day that was to change my people have been a failure. According to continuing to allow this administration life forever. Each year as the anniversary have suffered 30,000 to move our country into this dangerous US government statistics, almost 25% wounded and, of the one of my wounding in the war approached I of homeless people are veterans of past situation that can only have consequenc- would become extremely restless, expe- wars. How many are living marginal ex- million who have served es that I don’t even want to think about riencing terrible bouts of insomnia, de- istences because of their war physical in Iraq, almost 50% are in the end.” Kovic writes, “We must pression, anxiety attacks and horrifying break this cycle of violence and begin to and psychological wounds we can only estimated to have a nightmares. I dreaded that day and what imagine. Kovic has recently spent time move in a different direction; war is not it represented, always fearing that the in the Long Beach California Veterans stress disorder. Who will the answer, violence is not the solution. terrible trauma of my wounding might Administration Hospital as a patient. take care of these re- A more peaceful world is possible.” repeat itself all over again. It was a dif- Marshall Blesofsky is a physician Not much had changed since the 1960s. turning veterans? ficult day for me for decades and it re- According to Kovic, paralyzed Iraq vets assistant, educator and producer of mained that way until the anxieties and experience overcrowding, lack of staff- People’s Tribune TV, which is seen in nightmares finally began to subside.” ing, equipment breakdowns and lack of of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who Long Beach and Signal Hill, California. Ron Kovic writes about his experi- funding The conclusion is that our gov- are becoming the leaders of a move- ences with Post Traumatic Stress Disor- ernment has already proven it cannot ment to profoundly change America. der. In Iraq alone, US forces have suf- care for those men and women who have Recently Kovic addressed this issue, fered 30,000 wounded and, of the one sacrificed so much for their country. saying, “To speak out now and raise your million who have served in Iraq, almost A contemporary Kovic is Thomas voice against this policy, that’s what be- 50% are estimated to have a stress disor- Young who grew up in Kansas City. He ing an American is all about. That’s what der. Who will take care of these return- enlisted in the army after the attacks on patriotism is really all about. What is un- ing veterans? Based on the past, efforts 9/11 because he wanted to fight the ter- patriotic is allowing this all to happen—

Testing For High Stakes Looting Continued

(continued from page 8) The Gameplan schools than any other and subsidizes schools from Mexico to Indonesia. Now them in ways not available to public the chickens are coming home to roost. Such a rating system has been used The politics of privatization always schools. These schools, which can se- The privatizers are breaking the sys- for years to replace public hospitals, es- follow the same gameplan: underfund lect their students, something that public tem of public schools apart. At every pecially in the inner cities, with private a government service, declare a cri- schools cannot, are mostly run by cor- juncture and in every crisis, they demand ones. Public hospitals must treat every- sis, proclaim that corporations and the porations. They also can teach whatever further privatization of public wealth one who comes in the door. Therefore (so-called) “free market” can do a bet- they want. In essence, this deregulates and the elimination of public authority. they serve poorer, sicker patients and get ter job if only they were de-regulated public schools, since they can teach This means we must continue the fight lower marks. Then they are replaced by and not under government scrutiny. what they want. Now school boards are beyond saving public control — and private hospitals, run by HMOs, which Then give them vast government re- off the hook for their historic responsi- guarantee its expansion and extension. select who they will treat. Hospitals are sources that were denied in the first bility to provide a quality education to Otherwise public schools will be driv- opened and closed based on profitabil- place when they were publicly owned. each child. Study after study shows that en towards the terrible situation of health ity, not serving the public. Educational This scenario is certainly playing there is no evidence that charter schools care – fully privatized with the most ex- Maintenance Organizations (EMOs) are itself out in public education. Cali- overall provide a better education. pensive and lowest quality system in the now appearing to profit from the already fornia is a good case in point, though What is occurring in the US is sim- world. Clearly there is no way to fight $1 trillion corporate education market. privatization is rampant in every state. ply a local expression of the same poli- for public schools by going backwards Since private corporations are “pri- Public education in California has been tics of Neo-Liberalism that the US has to the old system. It wasn’t very good vate” they are under no obligation underfunded by a trillion dollars over used to loot and privatize public wealth anyway. Improving the schools requires to allow the public to control what the last 30 years. This created the le- from countries around the world. Nao- fighting forward towards a new system, they do. Now that so many govern- gitimate demand, particularly in the mi Klein’s important book The Shock one where every student has the right and ment services are controlled by cor- cities, to improve the quality of public Doctrine details how the demand for “a the access to quality public education. porations, discussions of what is in schools. Standardized testing is used to free market” was used to deregulate and the public interest are ”off the table”. “prove” that public schools are failing. privatize public infrastructures like wa- Now the state has more charter ter, electricity, telecommunications and www.peoplestribune.org AUGUST 2008 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 9 Journey for Justice

Activists and leaders met at the Chowchilla Senior Center for a day of powerful panel discussions at the third annual California Central Valley Journey for Justice on June, 29. 2008. The theme was “Addressing the Crime of Poverty”, especially apt consid- ering the Central Valley as a region has the second highest pov- erty rate in the United States. Only the state of Mississippi rates higher. On this page are comments from some of the participants.

Polo Chavez, second from right, from Comite Pro Uno, said when we face a “crisis” we always respond the same: with war. “War against gangs, war against ignorance, war against terrorism, war against illegal immigrants, war against lack of food, war against water security, war into infinity.” Ethel Long-Scott, to his left said, “We represent the best in America and need unity toward a greater vision. We need to kick the poli- ticians who support poverty enabling structures out.We need a different vision from the agenda of the rich and elite.”

PHOTO /MIKE RHODES

Debbie Reyes speaks in front of the women’s prison. The journey cara- Gloria Hernandez, from Comite No Nos Vamos, talked of her admiration vanned out to the Women’s prison the largest concentration of impris- of Cynthia Green for fighting for her rights as a homeless resident. “We oned women in the world. have to build a coalition, empowered by education.” PHOTO /MIKE RHODES PHOTO /MIKE RHODES

National Project Homeless Connect

By Lenette Evans ter off Pipestone Rd./Empire Ave., in Volunteers are greatly needed at Benton Harbor, Michigan. The up- this event to greet and to guide par- The Emergency Shelter Services, coming event will be held August ticipants through the process. There Inc., is a shelter for women, children 13th, 2008 at: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. are many different organizations and families. They also help them find The Project Homeless Connect that are involved as well as churches permanent housing, jobs and encour- consists of: Assessment of each in- and it would be really wonderful to Lenette Evans, age them in anyway they can to live dividual/family, one-stop shop loca- get more people and our communi- Saving Souls a better life then one on the streets. tion to access numerous community ties involved in this dynamic event. Ministries But many of the people at the shel- resources/services, customer oriented I encourage everyone to make Email: ter have a hard time making ends meet approach, involvement of the entire a point to come. You will be glad Savingsouls1@ with some of the simple essentials that community, focused on partnerships you did knowing you are help- yahoo.com are needed which are clothes, shoes, and collaborative efforts, and outreach. ing a great cause for the homeless. 269-876-1848 food, and especially personal care This event is for the homeless If anyone would like to partici- items like laundry soap, shampoo, and the poor and those in need and is pate or has any questions, please PHOTO /DONATED body soap, hand lotion, diapers, toys also meant to educate people in and call the shelter at: 269-925-1131. and games and things for kids, etc. around our surrounding communi- A few times a year the Shelter and ties, especially churches, leaders, their Director, Alysia Babcock, and ministers, healthcare professionals the staff hold the National Project and others who are wanting to make Homeless Connect at the Mercy Cen- a godly difference in people’s lives.

10 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | AUGUST 2008 www.peoplestribune.org The Elections: Breaking The Ties That Bind Us To The Corporations

From the Editors trillion. Meanwhile, one American in three had a net worth of less than As we head into the final stretch in $10,000 in 2004. As poverty has grown, the 2008 presidential elections, Ameri- the economy has been kept afloat with ca’s workers are living with uncertainty. credit extended to businesses and work- The economy continues to slide into ers, and with speculation in areas like crisis. Millions are losing their jobs, real estate. Now that the real estate their health care, their homes. Mil- bubble has burst and the economy is lions more have already been plunged sliding into crisis, millions of people into one level or another of poverty. face losing what little they have left. The financial system is shaky. People There is no question but that these are afraid and demanding change. labor-replacing technological changes Those of us who are struggling for will transform our society; the question a decent life must ask ourselves, what is who will control the transformation, has held back the process of improving and in whose interest will society be our lives, and what do we need to do to changed? In the hands of the workers, move the process forward? The answer the new technology can help us build is simple to say, but can be hard to do: a society of abundance, free of poverty We have to stop thinking with the ideas and fear. In the hands of the corpora- of the corporations that run this country tions, the new technology means more and start thinking for ourselves, as work- wealth for the few and more unemploy- ers. We have to break the ties that bind ment, poverty and fear for the many. us politically to the very people who are The corporations have been success- eliminating our jobs, cutting our wages ful over the years in promoting the no- and benefits, and driving us into poverty. tion of America as a classless society, It’s critical that we see the elections where we all have the chance to make in their historical context. That context it, or even to get rich. But the ongoing is the profound changes in the econo- destruction of jobs and our standard of my that have occurred over the past 40 living is opening people’s eyes. The years. Computers and robots have been workers are beginning to see that, no brought into the production process in matter how hard they work, their lives a big way. More and more production and their families are being destroyed is carried on with little or no labor, through no fault of their own, and and millions of jobs have been perma- neither the corporations nor the gov- nently eliminated or reduced to part- ernment are doing anything about it. time, contingency or low-wage jobs. A People with a program and a vision of whole new class of dispossessed people what’s possible can bring about change. is being created—millions who are The key is getting ideas out to people, cast out of the economy and are strug- so the workers can see what kind of so- Healthcare rally in San Francisco in June. gling to survive on little or no work— ciety is possible and start thinking for while at the other end of society, a tiny themselves. In the battle for the minds PHOTO /Bill Hackwell, ANSWER class of billionaires and the corpora- of the people, the elections are a forum tions they control amass huge fortunes. where this dialogue about change can they have and plunged into poverty. the needs of the workers. Their struggle Last year, the ranks of the richest go on. We must stand on the demands Because they are fighting for life, they will point the way forward for all of us. Americans included 482 billionaires, of the dispossessed, the demands of cannot compromise, and they are forced with a combined wealth of over $1.5 those who are being stripped of what to fight for a new society that will serve

The Green Party Announces Candidates

The Green party concluded its na- of the country. Their uncompromising tional convention in Chicago by nomi- stand to end the Iraqi occupation and nating Cynthia McKinney for Presi- defend the civil rights of the people is dent and adopting a program to deal in line with the demands of the dispos- with the developing economic and sessed, which this paper represents. political crisis from the standpoint of We urge our readers to take an ac- protecting the interests of the people. tive part in the coming elections on The People’s Tribune does not at the basis of program rather than per- this time endorse candidates. Howev- sonality and vague sloganeering. er, it would be a betrayal of the revo- lutionary movement not to note that the Green Party has taken a firm stand against the corporate power take over

www.peoplestribune.org AUGUST 2008 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 11 VOICES FROM BENTON HARBOR, MI REPORT FROM REV. PINKNEY’S ATTORNEY Editors Note: The following are excerpts and they can’t. So, what did they do? They took his the com- from Attorney Hugh M. Davis’ talk at a Pinkney writings about the Bible in the People’s Tribune and munity as Defense Fund meeting in Detroit, Michigan: decided it was a violation of his probation. The first long as claim was that he called the courts in the county rac- possible, This case arises out of the poorest city in Michigan. ist, corrupt and ignorant. He had been doing that for a regard- Its most valuable land is sought by corporate interests. long time. Nothing new. And even the judge could not less of By virtue of their control of the county, they control bring himself to claim this was not protected speech the shame the courts. The parade of people going before the under the First Amendment. The judge then read a that it will criminal courts are almost all poor, and disproportion- certainly ately Black; although we cannot ignore what they do “I contend that this is the only bring down to the Hispanic and poor white community. The thrust on Berrien is to physically remove and destroy families through case in history of a preacher County? It the use of the criminal justice system. Every person being sent to jail for paraphras- is ridicu- they can put in jail; every person whose voting rights ing the Bible.” lous and Justice Rally, Benton Harbor they can revoke with a felony conviction; every per- we believe son they can cause to lose their job by putting them — Attorney Hugh M. Davis that it will become a national issue. But all the people on probation; every person that they can cause to lose that hear about it nationally are not necessarily going the ability to pay for basic necessities through impos- paragraph where the judge himself was personally to organize, write letters and fundraise. That’s our job. ing ruinous court costs and probation is all part of the mentioned and where Pinkney quoted Deuteronomy The ACLU has agreed to take the case as Rev. process. In the 1960s, it was called Negro removal. about what God shall visit upon the iniquitous. The Pinkney’s direct representatives. On the original con- In Bosnia, it was called ethnic cleansing. It could be judge determined that this was a potential threat. viction, the National Lawyer’s Guild has filed in the called genocide the removal of the minority popula- Then he disqualified himself and the case -was as Michigan Court of Appeals a 115 page brief (that’s 65 tion for the purpose of the redevelopment of the land. signed to the reputedly most notorious racist on the pages more than the limit) raising 13 arguments about That’s what’s happening in Benton Harbor and the fore- bench (no small honor), the Honorable Dennis Wiley. how Pinkney’s conviction was unlawful. The Court most leader of the resistance is Rev. Edward Pinkney. So we undertook a campaign. Pinkney spent seven of Appeals accepted the entire brief. The prosecution months in the most horrendous conditions inside will reply in September. Second, we filed with the the Berrien County jail. We knew that if this case Governor’s office a Petition for Clemency, which is ever came before a judge of that bench, they would an area where political action, letters of support, etc. FREE PINKNEY!! not only revoke his probation, but they could put can make a difference. The more strength we build, him in prison. Pinkney bore it heroically. Pinkney, the more possible it will be to persuade Jennifer Gra- How You Can under continuous attack inside the jail, never nholm to grant clemency or vacate the conviction. stopped fighting, never lost hope. We went before We will also file a motion for bond pending appeal. Help: Judge Wiley. The prosecution took the Novem- 1) Get big name individuals to support Rev. Pinkney. ber copy of the People’s Tribune, entered it into evidence and never called a witness. We produced DOROTHY PINKNEY SPEAKS: 2) Raise funds for the appeal. an eminent theologian who explained that biblical 3) Connect other redevel- prophesy of the wrath of God upon the iniquitous “It’s a kangeroo court. It’s a KuKluxKlan county. opment and environmental was not a personal threat, an invitation of violence They are an organized criminal ring. The judge said struggles with the Benton or a true threat under the Constitution of the U.S. my husband had too much influence over people. They Harbor struggle. Rev. Pinkney testified that he believes that sin will see him as a threat to their plans for Harbor Shores. 4) Send donations to Pinkney’s Defense, receive retribution. It is protected activity under As long as he’s confined in prison, they feel secure to 1940 Union St., Benton Harbor, MI 49022. the First Amendment. But he was found guilty of go ahead and do what they need to do. My husband’s Call 269-925-0001 violating his probation. Then Wiley gave him ev- in a good mood. He’s a warrior, a fighter and has re- Visit Banco website for for up to date news ery minute he could, doubling the recommendation fused to let anything defuse him. The county never at bhbanco.blogspot.com/ of the prosecutor, doubling the recommendation went up against a man like him. Others have been of the probation department, 3-10 years in prison. bought and sold but he cannot be bought nor sold.” This judge actually said on the record that ‘I be- The probation officers in the county tried to find lieve that Pinkney did not intend to threaten the judge, HEAD OF DEFENSE FUND SPEAKS: out everywhere Pinkney has gone and everything he but he has a direct connection to God.’ He might. But, “I am the person that heads the Rev. Pinkney Defense has said or written. With his life under such extraor- if it is true, Pinkney will still have that divine connec- Fund. My husband and I were there to support Rev. dinary scrutiny and having him on tether, if they could tion in prison and the wicked are no safer. So what’s Pinkney when he first got arrested. Shortly after, my get him on anything, they would have. They didn’t the point? To remove the leader of the resistance from husband was fired. His boss was one of the members who sat on Cornerstone People’s Tribune (Whirlpool.) Even though there is out- P.O. Box 3524 PRESORTED rage over the corruption in the court sys- STANDARD tem here, people are afraid. So many have Chicago, Illinois 60654-3524 U.S. POSTAGE suffered under these people. They make Return service requested PAID up the laws as they go. We successfully CHICAGO, IL recalled the corrupt city commissioner PERMIT NO. 874 and the judge threw out the vote. Whirl- pool needed his vote to sell the lakefront property. They knew we were fixing to sweep through and get them all out of those seats. This is prime property. Pas- tor Pinkney was getting people excited about taking our city back from Whirl- pool and people were following him and they had hope. Now we know why he is in prison. We need to raise funds for Pas- tor Pinkney’s defense.” — Belinda Brown