Benton Harbor and Detroit are under a vicious fascist attack

Rev. Edward Pinkney, bhbanco.org

The majority of the African-American people in Michigan are under the fascist newEmergency Manager law. But we are all threatened by this legislation.  It will sweep through the stateand country if we do not stop them.
TheLaw undermines the will of the people as expressed through the ballot box, whichis the cornerstone of democracy. Democracy by self-rule ceases, collectivebargaining is stopped, public discourse is minimized and local elected officialsare stripped of all authority.
TheEmergency Manager has the power to remove elected officials from office,disburse all state, federal and local funds with no oversight,subpoenawitnesses and compel the production of papers, control all localappropriations, contracts, expenditures and loans, create newpositions andfill vacancies at the expense of the residents. The Emergency Managers can ignorethe minimum staffing level required bycontract or charters approved by the voters.The Emergency Manager can reject, modify, or terminate any contract, sell offlocal governmentproperty without any accountability, borrow money and ignorenotice requirements for the public in the adoption of ordinances.
TheEmergency Manager is a dictator with absolute power over the elected officials andthe citizens. When you bring in an EmergencyManager you are saying, thelocal elected officials are too stupid to manage your own city and people.
GovernorRick Snyder, along with his rich buddies and the big corporations, are the state’s real Emergency Managers. So regardless of who Snyder puts inthe position of Emergency Manager for the city ofDetroit, they are in total control.
Snyderhas been the dictator over Detroit for close to two years. Appointing anEmergency Manager is a diversion as he is already incontrol of theresponsibilities for running the city. Snyder used the threat of an EmergencyManager to the Detroit City Council to get themunder his control. The Mayor, DaveBing, already is under Governor Snyder’s complete control. Snyder’s rulewill continue when heappoints an Emergency Manager in Detroit. TheEmergency Manager will do nothing without the permission of GovernorSnyder and the bigcorporations.
ElieWiesel said, “I swore never to be silent, whenever and wherever human beings enduresuffering and humiliation. We must take sides;neutrality helps theoppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never thetormented. To remain silent and indifferent isthe greatest sin of all.”