By Pastor Mary
Gault
Thursday, June 26, 2008, corporate power raised it’s ugly head
again in the Berrien County Courthouse at the probation violation
hearing of Rev. Edward Pinkney. The contrived violation was on the
grounds that an article he wrote quoting Deuteronomy 28 was a threat to
the life of the trial judge, Judge Butzbaugh. While on the stand, Rev.
Pinkney’s probation agent, when asked how he knew about the article,
said that a colleague not assigned to the case brought him the
article. Then he, as probation agent, his supervisor, and the
prosecutor brought the probation violation against Rev. Pinkney. No
testimony was given that Judge Butzbaugh brought forth the complaint as
a threat on his life. They also took offense at his calling the judge a
racist and for being corrupt. Isn’t it interesting that for years Rev.
Pinkney showed up in the courtrooms in the Berrien County Courthouse
wearing t-shirts calling the judges and prosecutors “Benton Harbor’s
Most Wanted,” without interference?
More interesting is that Rev. Pinkney had reported to his probation
agent an hour before he was arrested yet no mention was made to him of
a violation nor did they detain him at that time. Rev. Pinkney’s arrest
came on the coattails of a very successful rally in Benton Harbor whose
guest speaker was former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. One can only
make the deduction that corporate and governmental powers saw this as
too big a threat and decided to remove Rev. Pinkney farther from the
community by sending him to prison.
The presiding judge assigned more power to Rev. Pinkney than Moses by
saying he was able to call upon God to carry out this so-called threat
and God would obey. As a pastor, I look at this as government ignoring
the Constitution by breaching our right to religious belief and ability
to freely preach the word of God. This court also trampled over the
constitutionally protected freedom of speech.
More Liquidation of Rights
Supporters of Reverend Pinkney outside Berrien County Courthouse.
PHOTO /PEOPLES TRIBUNE
PHOTO /PEOPLES TRIBUNE
By the
People's Tribune
The arrest of Rev. Edward Pinkney for utilizing his right to free speech and the indirect warning to the Peoples Tribune for publishing those thoughts needs to be seen for what they are. They are a step from the legal into the political arena to strip the people of their right to freedom of expression. It is a small part of the motion toward fascism in this country.
Background
Rev. Pinkney became known as the leader of the community based on his almost daily presence at the Berrien County Courthouse. He exposed the racism of the criminal justice system and the willful inadequacy of the defense provided to the poor, mostly Black defendants.
During this period, the struggle by Whirlpool and the real estate interests to develop Benton Harbor into a playground for the rich was raging. The question continued to be in whose interests was the redevelopment proceeding? In 2005, Pinkney led a recall of the City of Benton Harbor’s most powerful Commissioner, who favored Whirlpool’s effort. An all-white jury convicted Pinkney of five counts of improprieties in connection with this election.
What
this case represents for
America
The attack on democracy and the conviction of Rev. Pinkney for standing up for the poor shows that the corporate power structure is determined to crush anyone who stands in their way. It symbolizes an entire process under way in America. The once stable working class community of Benton Harbor has been devastated by automation and globalization. The open rule of corporate power is arising to oppose their struggle. The governing bodies that once controlled by buying up the people’s leaders now turn to intimidation and brute force.
This case is not about Rev. Edward Pinkney. It is about how a corporate giant like Whirlpool takes over a whole town. It is a harbinger of the future of America if people do not move to take over the corporations before they take over society. Our first battle in this war is the defense of our leaders. A movement that does not defend its leaders cannot grow. Defend Rev. Pinkney. Donate money for the appeal. Take this newspaper out and help awaken America. Make a stand for democracy in Benton Harbor.
The arrest of Rev. Edward Pinkney for utilizing his right to free speech and the indirect warning to the Peoples Tribune for publishing those thoughts needs to be seen for what they are. They are a step from the legal into the political arena to strip the people of their right to freedom of expression. It is a small part of the motion toward fascism in this country.
Background
Rev. Pinkney became known as the leader of the community based on his almost daily presence at the Berrien County Courthouse. He exposed the racism of the criminal justice system and the willful inadequacy of the defense provided to the poor, mostly Black defendants.
During this period, the struggle by Whirlpool and the real estate interests to develop Benton Harbor into a playground for the rich was raging. The question continued to be in whose interests was the redevelopment proceeding? In 2005, Pinkney led a recall of the City of Benton Harbor’s most powerful Commissioner, who favored Whirlpool’s effort. An all-white jury convicted Pinkney of five counts of improprieties in connection with this election.
What
this case represents for
AmericaThe attack on democracy and the conviction of Rev. Pinkney for standing up for the poor shows that the corporate power structure is determined to crush anyone who stands in their way. It symbolizes an entire process under way in America. The once stable working class community of Benton Harbor has been devastated by automation and globalization. The open rule of corporate power is arising to oppose their struggle. The governing bodies that once controlled by buying up the people’s leaders now turn to intimidation and brute force.
This case is not about Rev. Edward Pinkney. It is about how a corporate giant like Whirlpool takes over a whole town. It is a harbinger of the future of America if people do not move to take over the corporations before they take over society. Our first battle in this war is the defense of our leaders. A movement that does not defend its leaders cannot grow. Defend Rev. Pinkney. Donate money for the appeal. Take this newspaper out and help awaken America. Make a stand for democracy in Benton Harbor.
This article originated in the People's Tribune
PO Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654, 773-486-3551, info@peoplestribune.org.
Feel free to reproduce unless marked as copyrighted.
Please include this message with reproductions of the article.
PO Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654, 773-486-3551, info@peoplestribune.org.
Feel free to reproduce unless marked as copyrighted.
Please include this message with reproductions of the article.
