Resistance to fascism grows in Benton Harbor

Latest

Dorothy Pinkney speaks at a rally outside the Berrien County Courthouse after Rev. Pinkney’s appeals regarding his conviction and imprisonment. Photo/People’s Tribune
Dorothy Pinkney speaks at a rally outside the Berrien County Courthouse after Rev. Pinkney’s appeals regarding his conviction and imprisonment.
Photo/People’s Tribune

 
Fascism, the merger of the corporations and government, is developing further in Michigan, as is the resistance to it.
Once the robots began replacing workers in factories and poverty began to spread, the corporations began to impose fascism to contain the workers and guarantee their profits.
The rulers appointed dictatorial “Emergency Managers” to come in to Michigan cities and slash public services, cut off people’s water, take over school districts, and transfer public assets into corporate hands. Elected officials no longer had authority.
As a result, a movement arose. In Benton Harbor, one of the first cities to get Emergency Managers, the people fought to oust their Emergency Managers. They also utilized the electoral process to oust politicians that represented the big corporations such as Whirlpool. Rev. Pinkney, a leader of this movement and a spokesperson for the most destitute workers, was jailed on phony charges in an attempt to stop the movement. Much to the dismay of corporate power, the movement has not stopped. It is growing.
The same process is unfolding in other Michigan cities. Emergency Managers, who gave the green light for water cutoffs to thousands in Detroit and the poisoning of the water in Flint, now stand exposed as agents of the corporate-state.
The struggle is showing that capitalism, a system based on the private property interests of the few, is a dying system. It can’t and won’t provide for those it no longer can exploit. It offers only fascism. The question is: how are people to survive?
There is an old saying that without a vision a people will perish. Either the society is going to be run in the interests of the corporations or the people will take the corporations over and run them in the people’s interests. Imagine the world we could have! Spreading this vision can inspire millions to join this fight.
Use the People’s Tribune to educate about fascism, the attack on our leaders, the vision of the new society—and to defend Rev. Pinkney. A movement has to defend its leaders.

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

The People’s Tribune opens its pages to voices of the movement for change. Our articles are written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Articles entitled “From the Editors” reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: peoplestribune.orgPlease donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement for change. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff. The People’s Tribune is a 501C4 organization.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Anti-Migrant Buoys in Rio Grande Break Loose in Floods, Endangering People, Wildlife

Hundreds of buoys broke loose, closing international bridges and endangering people and wildlife, confirming warnings that "Operation River Wall" could not withstand a major flood.

I Wish I’d Been Wrong … But Here We Are

The America we remember isn't waiting on the other side of the next election. The path is forward; we don't get to go back. We can only decide what comes next.

Trump Admin Trying to Deport Witnesses Who Contradicted ICE Claims About Fatal Shooting

The Trump administration is trying to deport three witnesses to the ICE killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.

NY Mayor Mamdani Gives Stirring Address Marking America’s 250 Years

"The work of fulfilling the values first enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, that work endures and it belongs to us all," said New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a stunning address to New Yorkers on the 250 years since the Declaration was signed.

Cuba’s Education in Crisis: Closures at the University of Havana

Young Cubans could lose the promise of a free, universal education, and consequences of the Cuban blockade stretch to communities around the world that have long depended on Cuban-trained doctors and teachers.

More from the People's Tribune