Time for Community to Step Up to Plate

By Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Marcus Garvey, Fannie Lou Hammer, Stokely Carmichael, Booker T. Washington, Shirley Chisholm, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, are some of the civil rights leaders who have come before us. We understand how much hell our ancestors went through in order to survive in America. Today we have decided to fight to keep hope alive.

We have come to a time in America where all people from different ethnic and religious groups are being affected by a government that is supposed to care about its people. Rev Pinkney, a God fearing man who has followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, said, “The Shepherd is supposed to lay his life down for his sheep and teach God’s people to stand with courage.” Rev. Pinkney has demonstrated openly that he is a true warrior for God’s people. Whirlpool Corporation is a Cancer to the Benton Harbor, Michigan community, not just there but around the world. Whirlpool has political power to influence politicians in office to vote and push their agenda to steal land away from God’s people. Rev. Pinkney and his followers have been educating the world that our brothers and sisters living in Benton Harbor have 70% unemployment, with 90% of the people living below the poverty level. Why would the politicians want to build an 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, a boat launch, and about 30 homes that cost around a million dollars each on city property?

Today many churches have sold out to the government for faith-based money to be quiet and go along with the status quo. I thank God for Rev. Pinkney who is willing to rock the boat for justice for our people. Our brothers and sisters in Benton Harbor Michigan need our financial, spiritual and physical help. I’m asking the nation to come to Benton Harbor, Michigan to let the power structure know and the Benton Harbor families know, that Rev. Pinkney is one of us and we will fight until he is set free. We must face the reality that we might have to go to jail with Rev. Pinkney to expose the racist court system in Benton Harbor Michigan. The sleeping giant has now awakened. Rev. Pinkney has sacrificed himself and his family to stand with courage.

We must register our people to vote and educate them on the power of their vote. National Network In Action in July will be standing with Rev. Pinkney and the Benton Harbor family for Freedom, Justice and Equality. It is time for the community to step up to the plate because one of our leaders has been taken down, and now it’s time for us to respond.

Injustice to One is Injustice To All

Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr
National President
National Network In Action
www.nancal.org
559-803-0286
Email : Xyfloyd@aol.com

By Jan LightfootLane

A Maine woman is calling for the gathering of national forces to restore rights lost since 1971. "I also call for the end of poverty. It is the Poor of all skin tones who lack use of their civil rights. Three elements to curing American and world poverty are 1) the poor being able to tell their own stories; 2) a decent wage; and 3) enjoyment, and actual use of human rights, as the government fairly applying duly enacted laws," says the homeless advocate Jan LightfootLane of Maine.

Myself, Jan LightfootLane, I have presently taken a legal action against the semi-governmental organization which towns turn to for guidance on aid to avoid displacement. It is the Maine Municipal Association (MMA). The MMA serves the towns and lobbies for laws, and General Assistance (GA) laws. The MMA is a powerful lobby.

General Assistance in Maine is set up to help all those in need who qualify financially. A group called Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods (MAIN) fought off some of the worst changes in GA laws in 1993.

MAIN obtained a great law. So that each time a family or a individual was unable to fill their basic needs—oil, rent—the town should pay the full amount required, minus anything "misspent." A rational person would conclude anything misspent would mean betting on horses, buying alcohol. Towns with the state’s blessing erroneously conclude “misspent” also means pet food, transportation to and from work, burials, and school clothing.

So a member of MAIN group has filed a groundbreaking Civil Rights Case in US District Court in Bangor, Maine.

My research has taught me that most of this country's important and groundbreaking civil rights cases went unheard—until reaching the US Supreme Court. In the early 1970s the US Supreme Court said it was getting too many cases. So rather than imploring the lower courts not to make as many mistakes of law, it asked Congress to give the court a dispensation, of reviewing only the important cases. With lightning speed that measure was passed.
Before 1971 having a case heard by our land’s highest Court was a RIGHT, now it is merely a privilege. Without this protection, even the important 1960s Civil Rights cases might never have been heard.

The Maine US Courts are saying I do not have a right to expect towns to act in accordance with the law. And I am not personally injured enough by the fact that the unlawful acts of towns actions cause me to work harder….Helping our fellow human to receive benefits is an inherent 1st Amendment right.

I figure it follows that I have a right to assist others in avoiding homelessness. But without explaining why, the US District Court denied it was my right, "Basically because then, everyone would want to use that right."

To have this case heard, and given proper consideration people like you, the reader, must tell the Courts and your USA Lawmakers you are aware of the Courts "Stealing of Rights." Write a letter or an email once a month to your local US Senator, and to Senators Snowe and Collins in Maine. Write to the Bangor Federal US District Court asking they "follow their oath of protecting the Constitution." It is the poor, us under-paid, who need protection—not Bill Gates.

The poor or indigent are SUPPOSED to BE a "Protected Class” of citizens. When the use of the Courts are denied, us underpaid are NOT Protected. It is time for Civil Rights in 2008. It is the time it time for many people to be trained as leaders. And to step up if one leader falls. It is time to cure 100% of poverty.

Write: US District Court of Maine, PO Box 1007, Bangor ME.04402. Pl

This article originated in the People's Tribune
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