Reporter Convicted Of Charges Related To Her Coverage Of Police

Troopers wrench Diane Bukowski’s
arm up behind her back, shoving
her to go inside the police car after
arrest. Diane was stripped of her
purse, camera, notebook and reporter’s
badge. Police deleted two
photos from her camera.

The following are excerpts from a public statement by Michigan Citizen Reporter Diane Bukowski.

I was convicted Friday May 1 on two felony counts of “assaulting/resisting/obstructing” state troopers. The charges related to my coverage last Election Day of a high-speed state trooper chase down which ended with the deaths of Detroiters James Willingham, a father of ten, and Jeffery Frazier, an autistic young man beloved in his community.

I am neither dispirited nor depressed about this unjust outcome, but all the more resolved to continue the struggle against the beast that is the so-called “criminal justice” (read injustice) system in this city, county, state and country. Tens of thousands of poor defendants, who do not have my advantages, are daily railroaded into the prison system using court-appointed attorneys who frequently plead them out whether or not they committed the crime. Many are charged with crimes arising from their poverty.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, who knows my extensive coverage of police brutality cases and her failure to prosecute Detroit’s killer cops including Eugene Brown, brought these appalling, trumped up charges against me.

My attorney and I were forced to fight the charges with one arm tied behind our backs, due to the actions of both Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Trzcinski and Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hathaway.

On Apr. 17, as a hearing on a motion to withdraw from my case was being heard, a motion to “preclude the defense of press privilege” from my trial was also heard. I had no idea this motion had been presented seven days earlier.
The Judge partially granted this request which blatantly violated the First Amendment.

My jury venire was not representative of a “fair cross-section of the community” as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. Only two Blacks and two Detroiters were on the final jury. Blacks represent 82.8 percent of Detroit’s population and 42 percent of Wayne County’s population according to the most recent estimates from the US Census. Detroiters also represent 42 percent of the county’s population. The judge continued the trial despite that a third Black juror called in the second day and said she had car trouble, although he could easily have sent a court officer to pick her up. She was instead excluded from the jury.

The judge even cut off most of my attorney’s direct exam of me, the defendant. Prosecutors viciously attacked Willingham’s grieving sister when she took the stand to testify that I did not cross any yellow caution tapes and did not assault, resist or obstruct the officers.

There were numerous other gross irregularities which my attorneys will deal with in their appellate actions.

But I ask all of you not to lose heart. My determination to continue the struggle against the monster that is this injustice system has been greatly increased by this outcome, and I look forward to victory in the end. If anyone has questions, they can reach me at 313-205-6718 or by email at diane_bukowski@hotmail.com. THANK YOU ALL AND LOVE YOU ALL. DIANE

Getting the Water Affordability Plan on the Ballot!

Ballots signed in the fight for water in Detroit.
PHOTO /MWRO

By Gwendolyn Gaines and Sylvia Orduno, MWRO

Editors Note: Detroit’s Water Affordability Plan was drafted in 2004 by Michigan Welfare Rights to stop the shutting-off of water to below poverty level customers and to institute a water rate formula based upon their gross annual income. It was approved by the Detroit City Council in 2006. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department refused to implement the plan. After much political pressure, they agreed to a watered down version. The Water Affordability Plan is needed to help prevent the over 5,000 annual water shut-offs to Detroit families. Families without water or basic utilities can have their children taken away by the Michigan Department of Human Services.

Efforts to put the Water Affordability Plan on the November 2009 ballot in Detroit are in full force! Michigan Welfare Rights Organization members and volunteers have been gathering hundreds of signatures weekly since March, and are making a final push during these last three weeks.

With a goal of 7000 signatures and over 700 petitions out in the community, we are making a final push to ensure we have all of the signatures we need. Most Detroit voters who sign the petitions are happy to do so. They know we need changes in the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to make water affordable to low-income customers.

Detroit volunteers have been collecting signatures outside of the water department, at grocery stores, near bus stops, at gas stations, in the neighborhood, and at churches. Many petition signers believe help is needed to provide relief to low-income homeowners and renters with high water bills. Each year the DWSD—the third largest municipal water provider—raises its rates beyond the cost of living, while reducing services and increasing the outsourcing of maintenance work. We know the DWSD is also using this strategy to break the local water workers union, AFSCME Local 207, so that they can privatize our water department.

Some registered voters have refused to sign the Water Affordability Plan petition. They say, “It ain’t gonna do no good,” or “Ain’t nothing changing.” In this economic crisis, we know it is harder and harder to believe in change. However, we also know that when the people rally together we can force the changes we need not just to survive but for a better quality of life. We can’t wait anymore for do-nothing politicians!

Please contact the MWRO office to help collect these final signatures! (313) 964-0618 or info@mwro.org

This article originated in the People's Tribune
PO Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654, 773-486-3551, info@peoplestribune.org.
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