BENTON HARBOR, MI — Benton Harbor is like many cities across this country. The people have less faith in the system to do right by them. Not just in the courts, but housing, the job sector, and education, to name a few!
In May, I appealed to the City Commission to help me organize a “Get Out the Vote Rally”, to which only two out of nine expressed interest! This proved what I already knew: those holding elected seats don’t really care if the citizens vote or not.
As a result, a little over 800 people voted in the primary mayoral election, less than 10%! Marcus Muhammad received 374 votes. Hightower got 272, claiming he would have gotten James Atterberry’s 167 votes, if he hadn’t run!
Ironically, Mr. Hightower’s temper flared on July 20 during an open Benton Harbor City Commission meeting, having Commissioner Mary Alice Adams escorted out of the building by a police officer. She was expressing her views on an issue. He felt she took too long, and didn’t like what she was saying! He also told the officer to ticket her for “disturbing the peace,” which the officer did not do. Apparently, the First Amendment is under fire here.
In another attempt to keep the truth from the people, Benton Harbor Police Department Chief McGinnis has been denying Freedom of Information Act requests from ABC 57 (South Bend, IN) concerning crimes committed in the community. McGinnis was upset after a story about a gun/robbery at the high school on June 9 was released by the station, and that’s when the requests began being ignored. By withholding this information from the people, the Benton Harbor officials are putting residents at risk. And, this is not the only example of information being withheld.
Many residents won’t speak up for fear of retaliation by police, landlords, courts, etc. A lot of people have gone to Rev. Pinkney over the years, not just about court issues, but for housing, discrimination, school issues, etc. They KNEW he stood for them, and I believe Berrien County hoped when they (wrongfully) imprisoned him, it would also silence the community by spreading fear that it could happen to them.
It comes down to a simple choice: will you do NOTHING, and be imprisoned by fear of uncertainty? Or will you stand up and fight this system that only desires to enslave and imprison ALL working class, poor, homeless, and of course, those of us who speak out, regardless of your race? As for me, I will stand up and fight for EVERYONE’S RIGHTS, until the day I leave this Earth.
