PHOTO/ LEONA MCELEVENE
BENTON HARBOR, MI — Memorial Day weekend and it was hot in the city hall parking lot. I was here to join the protest of the Senior PGA tournament, which is played on what some say is stolen land. At 10:30 a.m., the air was already sticky.
Despite the temperature, it was a pleasure to meet Ralph Poynter, an activist from New York. At 84, he seemed to have the energy of a 30-year-old, as he regaled us with stories and seasoned advice. It was good seeing Marian Kramer from Detroit and Claire McClinton of Flint. Combined, these two have more than a century’s worth of pounding the streets for human rights. They and about 200 others came to support Rev. Edward Pinkney in this action, calling attention to the misbehavior of the Whirlpool Corporation.
Festivities included kite flying and folk music, speech making and trumpet playing. But there was another reason to feel good this year. Imprisoned for a crime existing only in the imagination of the Berrien County prosecutor, Rev. Pinkney was not able to attend this event last time. But here he was, smiling and passing out T-shirts. He told us of his victory in the Supreme Court, nullifying his conviction in Berrien County. As proudly noted on the T-shirts, the six-judge panel had voted unanimously in his favor.
The march itself was held in silence. How could it be otherwise, after Ladonna Walker spoke about her son being hanged in the jail under suspicious circumstances. Standing tensely, her voice quavering, she listed the irregularities.
She was followed by Ayanna Johnson who told about her son. He was nicknamed Karate because of his devotion to the sport, a martial arts instructor known to give free lessons in the park on weekends. Police claim he performed the incredible feat of shooting a gun with each hand while riding a bicycle. No powder burns were found on his hands. Ayanna was as calm as Ladonna was passionate, but both of their stories wrenched hearts and loosed tears.
The solemn procession made its way through town, past the gaping patrons outside the local pub, just skirting the edges of Senior PGA territory. The issue has always been about stolen land being used for a golf course. But this year, the silence seemed to highlight something else: a new frame of thought, perhaps, carried by a little voice saying, “No more.”
No more following politicians with honeyed tongues hiding hollow hearts. No more listening to black-robed charlatans, judicial and religious, whose shame will be their supper when the average person catches on to their sins. No more bowing to corporations—those clever tools devised by sociopaths—that have caused more harm to humanity than anything else. No more ignoring our own best interest and no more running from our consciences.
The silent march brought an unexpected gift: a brief glance at our truest selves, and a fighting chance to reclaim that self, one conscious action at a time.
Phil Bassett is author of “Soldier of Truth!” a new book about the trials and struggles of Rev. Edward Pinkney and the people of Benton Harbor Michigan for justice in the fight against the rule of the Whirlpool Corporation over their town. Purchase on amazon.com.
EDENITES is the term that I would offer in a humble way for us to be called. It means “Original Indigenous Paradise People.” We have many different Nationalities and many different birth places but need to have a new name that allows all peoples everywhere to take part in God’s Green Earth. He who defines you is your master. Thus now we must let THE ALL MIGHTY Define us, book of Genesis. This name gets all of us out of the pigeon holes that we have been placed in and have gone to. All peoples can claim this new name if they will live in the Righteousness of God, Allah, Yahvah, Jehovah, Yahweh or by any of the other names. We are indigenous to the entire planet. Please pass this Divine Idea along to others.