By Dorothy Pinkney
On March 17, 2008, Judge Alfred Butzbaugh heard the motion to remove the entire Berrien County judiciary from hearing my husband, Rev. Edward Pinkney's, case. The defense argued that he could not get a fair trial in this county because of remarks both Rev. Pinkney and his supporters used against Judge Alfred Butzbaugh and the Berrien County Judiciary. People in the community also wear t-shirts everyday naming Judge Butzbaugh, Judge Wiley, Judge Schofield and Judge Maloney for crimes against humanity. This hearing was very important for not only what was said, but for what was not said but known.
I believe my husband was sentenced by Judge Butzbaugh for being the leader of a successful recall election of Glen Yarbrough, a corrupt city commissioner. Rev Pinkney was among those who started the effort to save beautiful Jean Klock Park and the city of Benton Harbor from Whirlpool and Harbor Shore's developers. Interestingly enough, one of the major real estate companies of the Benton Harbor area is Ship Street Realty which was merged with the professional corporation of Butzbaugh and Ryan on March 9, 2006 after my husband’s conviction. The properties they own will increase in value. Judge Butzbaugh also has other property right along Main street that stands to benefit from Harbor Shores development – the entities that Rev. Pinkney was fighting against.
Why was this judge allowed to preside over someone whose case is inextricably linked to Harbor Shores? Could his special interests be another reason why Judge Butzbaugh falsely accused Rev. Pinkney of threatening his life with a biblical scripture? Why are my husband's attorneys worried about getting a fair hearing in Berrien County? Why was it so important for Judge Butzbaugh to make sure my husband be convicted? Could Berrien County Judiciary once again have gotten their hands caught in the cookie jar? As corporate power rolls on in this country; you brothers and sisters better keep your mind on freedom and keep freedom on your mind.
Updates From Pinkney Defense Committee:
Rep. John Conyers, Chairperson of the House Judiciary Committee, recently visited prisoners in Louisiana (2 of the Angola 3), and spoke of their wrongful conviction, urging a swift and just resolution. (SF Bay View newspaper, 4/2/08) We wish he would do the same in his own state of Michigan, particularly concerning the political jailing of Rev. Pinkney.
Please send letters or postcards supporting Rev. Pinkney's application to the Parole Board for a pardon. Send to: Michigan Department of Corrections, Office of the Parole Board, Pardons and Commutations Coordinator, Post Office Box 30003 Lansing, Michigan 48909
BOYCOTT WHIRLPOOL & SUBSIDIARIES
Saving Benton Harbor from the Big Corporations
Mary Carter at Jean Klock Park at Lake Michigan, Benton Harbor.
Harbor Shores is buying up everything — in the neighborhoods, ghettos, everywhere. It’s a land grab by the big corporations. We see it coming and it’s scary. But they’re not getting things done like they wanted. The citizens are getting more educated and jumping in saying what they want and don’t want. There’s a lot of people out of work and some think there will be jobs and more education for their children. That’s how they sold this to the people. Also, our city officials – the majority — want this golf course in the park to go ahead. If they don’t get the golf course, they will have the land and they can do anything they want, sublet it or whatever, for 105 years. I don’t know what will happen to our schools. We only have two sources of revenues – water and land — and they’re taking both. The park belongs to the children, those who are here now and in the future.
We had public hearings where citizens had the right to speak, but instead they had people from other areas and states come in giving their spin for the golf course. They even allowed the president of Harbor Shores, Marcus Robinson, to speak. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is for this thing too. People don’t seem to care about the people in Benton Harbor. It’s all about people making money. There is a lot of opposition, but officials are coming at the citizens like we’re trying to take something from them. Whirlpool had a picnic last year and the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph police ran people away from our park. Now they intend to block the entrance to the beach so we have to go all the way around to St. Joseph to get in. They have a whole plan.
