It was a very exciting victory for the people when the Michigan State Court of Appeals in July reversed Judge Dennis Wiley’s ridiculous decision ordering my husband, Rev Edward Pinkney to prison for 3 to 10 years for quoting the Bible.
The Court of Appeals ruling states:
“[The Court] agrees that the paraphrase of Deuteronomy 28 “is not defensible as anything other that [sic] hyperbole” and that the paraphrase could not serve as a lawful basis for revoking defendant’s probation. Accordingly, we need not address or decide the issue. . . .To the extent that the prohibition of defamatory and demeaning behavior impinges on defendant’s first amendment rights, the prohibition was not proper, as it was not directly related to defendant’s rehabilitation or to the protection of the public. Id. Because the prohibition was not proper, the trial court abused its discretion in revoking defendant’s probation based on a violation of the prohibition. We reverse the trial court’s order revoking defendant’s probation.”
This is a tremendous victory. Injustice is everywhere. Justice seems far away. Truth is chased out of court. Honesty is shoved aside. Lies are told. Those who turn from crime end up ruined. When the Lord noticed that justice had disappeared He became very displeased. The lord will rescue his people. It disgusted him even more to learn that no one would do a thing about it. So with his own powerful arms he won victories for truth.
Supporters filled the courtroom
during Rev. PInkney’s
appeal. Pinkney’s probation had been revoked by the
trial judge for quoting the Bible, and he was sentenced
to 3-10 years in prison. The Appellate Court reversed
the trial court’s ruling. However, Pinkney spent over a
year in eight Michigan prisons before being released.
It is our constitutional duty as American citizens to hold our elected officials accountable. We must draw the line and decide what to do if that line is crossed and we must use our Constitution. Most judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials have crossed the line in the sand many times. It is time for the people — poor whites, Blacks and Hispanics — to stand together and fight for what is right.
My husband said that as long as he is living and has breath and bravery to move forward, he will continue to keep fighting for justice, peace and love for all.
Benton Harbor Man Stands Up To Police
Corruption, Gets Arrested
Corruption, Gets Arrested
Excerpted
from the BANCO website, bhbanco.com
Quacy Roberts, age 32, was walking when police in two squad cars hopped out of their cars, ran up to him, pushing him against a fence. They knew who he was. Before Benton Harbor Officer Andrew Collins was imprisoned this year, Mr. Roberts was one of his many victims.
Collins planted more drugs than almost any Benton Harbor officer — on over 200 people say people in the community. At his hearing in 2007, Roberts testified that he was never in possession, and that Collins had planted drugs on him. He’s also part of the group suing the city and county. (This explains why police stopped Roberts.) Officer Andrew Collins was convicted in the Federal Court NOT for the huge number of lives he ruined through drug planting, but for possession — he was given 37 months. This shows the level of support the Federal government and State of Michigan give to Berrien County courts.
After shoving Roberts into a fence, police searched him and found no drugs. Two days later they issued a warrant for his arrest. Roberts was found guilty of possession of cocaine by an all-white jury. He had not been in possession of cocaine, and there was no evidence or proof to show that he was.
Benton Harbor police and the Berrien County judicial system are angered by anyone who speaks up about their ability to control and oppress Benton Harbor’s poor. Quacy Roberts is the most recent victim. As revenge, the police singled him out to make a statement; if you don’t succumb to our oppressive power, you will be jailed and we will swallow the key.
It is HIGH TIME for citizens of Michigan to REFUSE to let our tax dollars be wasted on personal vendettas of corrupt officials. Call the Michigan Dept. of Corrections (517-335-1426), Gov. Granholm (517-335-7858), and your state representative about this case and the waste of tax dollars in Berrien County.
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.
Quacy Roberts, age 32, was walking when police in two squad cars hopped out of their cars, ran up to him, pushing him against a fence. They knew who he was. Before Benton Harbor Officer Andrew Collins was imprisoned this year, Mr. Roberts was one of his many victims.
Collins planted more drugs than almost any Benton Harbor officer — on over 200 people say people in the community. At his hearing in 2007, Roberts testified that he was never in possession, and that Collins had planted drugs on him. He’s also part of the group suing the city and county. (This explains why police stopped Roberts.) Officer Andrew Collins was convicted in the Federal Court NOT for the huge number of lives he ruined through drug planting, but for possession — he was given 37 months. This shows the level of support the Federal government and State of Michigan give to Berrien County courts.
After shoving Roberts into a fence, police searched him and found no drugs. Two days later they issued a warrant for his arrest. Roberts was found guilty of possession of cocaine by an all-white jury. He had not been in possession of cocaine, and there was no evidence or proof to show that he was.
Benton Harbor police and the Berrien County judicial system are angered by anyone who speaks up about their ability to control and oppress Benton Harbor’s poor. Quacy Roberts is the most recent victim. As revenge, the police singled him out to make a statement; if you don’t succumb to our oppressive power, you will be jailed and we will swallow the key.
It is HIGH TIME for citizens of Michigan to REFUSE to let our tax dollars be wasted on personal vendettas of corrupt officials. Call the Michigan Dept. of Corrections (517-335-1426), Gov. Granholm (517-335-7858), and your state representative about this case and the waste of tax dollars in Berrien County.
Quotes From The Community:
Justice has its anger
and the wrath of justice is an element of progress.The uprising in 2003
was the greatest step forward by the people in Benton Harbor. It was
unfinished. It released the untapped springs of society. It softened
the hearts appeased, tranquilized and set flowing through the world the
tides of civilization. I want to thank Rev Edward Pinkney for his
tremendous work and victory for the people. He is a true
warrior. — Rev. D. Smith
Power concedes nothing without a demand that the struggle for justice must never be adjourned. The forces of injustice not only in Benton Harbor, but around the country, do not take a vacation.We must stand up against Whirlpool, Harbor Shores, Cornerstone Alliance and the Benton Harbor commissioner. Remove them all. — Deloris H. Demario
Demario Allen was given 15-40 years in prison. He was convicted by a all white jury that was motivated by something other than the truth. Allen is Black. The Berrien County Sheriff Department claimed he smuggled drugs into the jail.The drugs were never in his possesion. Every person who goes to jail is searched for drugs. None was found yet he was charged with possesion of 35 ecstacy pills and given 15 years in prison. Police Officer Andrew Collins was found with a whole locker of three different kinds of drugs inside the Department and people in the community say he planted drugs on over two hundred people. He was given 37 months in prison only because he was white; now you tell me, what is wrong with this picture? — Charity Morgan
Power concedes nothing without a demand that the struggle for justice must never be adjourned. The forces of injustice not only in Benton Harbor, but around the country, do not take a vacation.We must stand up against Whirlpool, Harbor Shores, Cornerstone Alliance and the Benton Harbor commissioner. Remove them all. — Deloris H. Demario
Demario Allen was given 15-40 years in prison. He was convicted by a all white jury that was motivated by something other than the truth. Allen is Black. The Berrien County Sheriff Department claimed he smuggled drugs into the jail.The drugs were never in his possesion. Every person who goes to jail is searched for drugs. None was found yet he was charged with possesion of 35 ecstacy pills and given 15 years in prison. Police Officer Andrew Collins was found with a whole locker of three different kinds of drugs inside the Department and people in the community say he planted drugs on over two hundred people. He was given 37 months in prison only because he was white; now you tell me, what is wrong with this picture? — Charity Morgan
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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.
