It's crucial to expose the state and nat'l leadership of the NAACP for having strayed from their purposes to become the defenders of corporations and the 1%. Instead, the main objective should be to advocate for justice for African-American people. This is stating the obvious. The organization will resist you with all their might if you expose it for allowing corporations to gain control. The NAACP is thoroughly contaminated by greed and corruption. When will people say enough is enough?
Pinkney v. NAACP
Activist alleges hostile takeover of Twin Cities chapter
April 5, 2012, By Kate Genellie, Herald Palladium
BENTON HARBOR - Vocal community activist Edward Pinkney says he is suing the heads of the Michigan and national NAACP because they are trying to wrest control of the organization's local branch away from him.
Pinkney, who has been president of the Benton Harbor/Twin City NAACP branch since 2009, posted a press release to his blog Tuesday that said he is suing NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, Michigan NAACP President Yvonne White and Michigan NAACP Vice President James Gill for being part of a "hostile takeover" of the local NAACP branch.
The press release further names Benton Harbor Mayor James Hightower, Benton Harbor schools Superintendent Leonard Seawood, Whirlpool Corp., the Senior PGA Championship and the Golf Course at Harbor Shores as part of the takeover, but doesn't say they are defendants in the lawsuit.
Pinkney said he is suing the state and national NAACP officials for entering into a joint agreement with Marcus Robinson, the president and CEO of Consortium for Community Development, to take over the local NAACP branch.
Pinkney said the case's preliminary hearing is in Wayne County Circuit Court on April 11.
Pinkney said he would present, at that hearing or at a later one, an email circulated by Whirlpool stating that national and state NAACP officials were persuaded to reorganize the branch, and that members should contact Robinson, rather than local branch officers.
"This was an attempt, a hostile attempt, to take over the local NAACP branch," Pinkney said by phone Wednesday.
Jeff Noel, Whirlpool's vice president of communication and public affairs, said Wednesday he is not aware of any formal action or an official statement by Whirlpool regarding the local, state or national NAACP.
Many Whirlpool employees are active in community organizations, Noel said, and the corporation does support some organizations with funding, but those organizations have their own boards.
Pinkney said part of the plan to unseat him is offering free memberships to those who would vote against him in an upcoming election. Membership dues in the local branch are normally $30 per year.
"We had to file a lawsuit in order to bring the truth to the table," he said, adding this could be the first of many lawsuits, including some against Whirlpool and the PGA.
But Pinkney said he will take it one step at a time.
"We don't want to go out there and sue everybody. That wouldn't be logical," he said.
Robinson and state NAACP officials were not immediately available for comment.
kgenellie@TheH-P.com
