April, 2006

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The people of Benton Harbor, Mich. speak their minds

By People's Tribune Staff

Some Benton Harbor, Mich., residents are asking the following question: "Why are they trying so hard to convict Rev. Pinkney for allegedly having ballots in his possession and they overlook that a corrupt Benton Harbor Commissioner, Ralph Crenshaw, illegally carried a canister of absentee ballots from a car to where the ballots were being counted? (See photo.) No one is allowed to have contact with ballots other than the designated person. Mr. Crenshaw claimed he was carrying the canister to help a woman from a precinct because she asked for help. But the police captain was present. He could have brought the ballots in. Mr. Crenshaw claimed it was not a violation because the seal wasn't broken. But, no one knew how long he had the ballots or from what distance he carried them. Why wasn't this illegality questioned? Why did the local newspaper, the Herald Paladium, not run a story? Everyone saw the photo. A photo is a better source of the truth than words," said one resident.

Courts steals children in Benton Harbor

Lakisha Allen, a 21-year-old mother of two children, was outside a Berrien County courtroom almost in tears. "They are trying to take my rights for my children." She said her 2-year-old and her 4-year-old have been in the state's hands for 18 months. "They lied on me in court. And the people my kids are with aren't treating them right. " Lakisha went to Social Services for a DNA test after prosecuting her child's father. It was then that they took her children. "They claimed I didn't have a stable home," she said. She said this is not unusual and has a lot to do with money. Social Services is taking more kids because they get money from the state to place them. Foster care is supposed to help but they aren't. We urge our readers to get involved in cases like this as part of the struggle for justice in America.