Monday, August 27, 2012

Evidence of NAACP corruption keeps rolling in...

June 01, 2010

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Marcus Robinson

Whirlpool's Marcus Robinson has been working with the NAACP, specifically Yvonne White, Michigan NAACP president, to takeover the Benton Harbor branch and me, the president. Two people who want to speak anonymously have reported to me that Whirlpool paid a large sum of money to the state NAACP. --Rev. Pinkney

Thursday, August 23, 2012

2 messages about the NAACP

When Ralph Poynter and I went to Benton Harbor, Mich. we saw the effects of gentrification and the firing of mostly Black folk (working class) by Whirlpool. The sole spokesperson for police brutality land grabbing is the Rev. Edward Pinkney. What happened in Ossining, NY is similar in terms of getting rid of the Ossining Chapter of NAACP by the NY State pres. Hazel Dukes. Former Lobbyist for the tobacco industry and now unofficially supporting the poisonous soft drink industry. This Chapter was too much for some folk. I spoke in Benton Harbor on the history of J. Bond, Hazel Dukes, James Gee, and Ben Andrews - all charged with crimes and in some cases reappointed to the National Board of NAACP. Benton Harbor and Ossining Chapters of NAACP committed no crimes against our folk. That is the treatment that the Ossining Chapter got after 70 some odd yrs. of service to the community. Now the Kneegrow middle class in Benton Harbor, Mich. has decided Rev. Ed Pinkney is too militant for the bourgeois kneegrows and Whirlpool. The "Silver Rights Leadership" have decided to move on Pinkney. They have tried to frame, jail him for 10yrs. and yet "He Still Rises" to overcome a most powerful enemy. Corprate ameriKKKa and the "Silver Rights Leadership" of the NAACP. IT SEEMS IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS.

SUNDIATA SADIQ

~~~~~~~~~~~

Rev,

I joined the NAACP this year when I moved back to Utica, NY as a gesture of solidarity with local people active in the community. I don't agree with the undemocratic structure of the organization or its close ties with the Democratic Party, which I believe along with the
GOP, does more to oppress black people, poor people, and people in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. and does nothing at all for self determination, freedom and liberation of poor people. The organization does some good work but I regret signing up and I wanted to let you know I just heard of your story and just burned my NAACP card. I haveto be true and faithful to my core beliefs and values as an anarchist and am unable to any longer associate myself with an organization that wants to share the table with the political and corporate elite. I find more inspiration from groups like SNCC, the Black Panthers, the IWW and many others and can find it now through the Occupy movement which I am a part of. I think you made the right move in creating a grassroots community group and I hope you see it flourish.

in struggle and solidarity,
anon.
Utica, NY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The head of the NAACP on Monday compared the group's fight against voter ID laws that have been passed in several states to the struggle for civil rights in the 1960's.
What a hypocrite organization. In order to vote in any NAACP election you must have a picture ID. What a hypocrite organization. -- Rev. Pinkney

Monday, August 20, 2012

What is the NAACP position on vote-buying?

If you have one or two minutes, please call or email the National NAACP:
Ask about their position on corporate vote buying. This is in regards to the state of Michigan NAACP holding a special election in Benton Harbor to oust Rev. Edward Pinkney as branch president. Whirlpool employee Marcus Robinson gave free memberships to over 200 people who said they would vote against Pinkney.

Any questions or comments you raise with the national office would be much appreciated.

Rev. Pinkney

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Is the NAACP relevant?

Here's the most important question people can ask about the NAACP: is it relevant?

My belief is that it has made itself irrelevant. By taking money from Whirlpool and other corporations, it has lost influence; it is now obligated to the corporate agenda, not the social justice agenda.

Giant Food Inc.

In Maryland, black employees sued Giant Food Inc. after several complaints of discrimination had been lodged. When the employees sought assistance from the NAACP, they were rebuffed. It was later discovered that Giant Food Inc. donated $25,000.00 to the local NAACP in a successful attempt to quash their legal involvement on the side of the black plaintiffs.

Denny's

After repeated incidences of discrimination at the restaurant chain, the Baltimore Chapter gave Denny's the corporation-of-the-year award after donations were given by the restaurant corporation. Read this book: The American Directory of Certified Uncle Toms. The Denny's story is reported there, as are many other stories.

Voter ID laws

The head of the NAACP compared the group's fight against voter ID laws that have been passed in several states to the 1960's civil rights struggles.

What a hypocrite organization. In order to vote in any NAACP election, you must have a picture. What a hypocrite organization.

The NAACP is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Rev. Edward Pinkney
269-925-0001

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

NAACP election to ensure Whirlpool is given business-of-the-year award

A corporate looking email is circulating. It states that the newly created Benton Harbor "Leadership Caucus" endorses a state NAACP organized election to oust Rev. Pinkney. People who made calls to Rev. Atterberry of this "group" heard that Pinkney is too much of a "trouble maker." They want a new Twin Cities NAACP president. (Or, at least their overlord, Whirlpool, does.)

This is Rev. Pinkney's response:

None of the current membership will be attending the unsanctioned election. The national office provided us the list of memberships paid by check from Whirlpool's Marcus Robinson. It includes the Benton Harbor School Superintendent Leonard Seawood, Rev. Kenneth Gavin, Rev. Melvin Burton, Ms. Alloyd Blackmon, Rev. Nat Wells, Rev. Jame Atterberry, Mr. Corey Bell, and Mr. Jerry Price.

The election is in direct violation of the court order. Only the $100,000 law suit was thrown out because the national office did not have time to respond to activities of state pres. Yvonne White of Detroit and VP James Gill of Lansing. It's alleged that they must have this election in August to ensure that Whirlpool is given an NAACP business-of-the-year award.

The voices of the PEOPLE of Benton Harbor need to be heard. Unfortunately, the oppression has lasted for so many years, and the injustices are so profound, that the voices have been silenced. This has been the Whirlpool plan all along. Eliminate as many jobs as possible, convict and imprison as many people possible, take away as many services as possible, and people are either driven away, or stay -- in silence. Then, the land grab is easy. Instead of fighting the oppression (not too strong a word), the people who signed onto this "Call for new leadership" are playing a part in it.

God help the "Leadership Caucus" as we return to court with the membership list, the email from Whirlpool, and letters of compliance from President Jealous.


Rev. Edward Pinkney, 269-925-0001
President
Benton Harbor Twin Cities NAACP

Pinkney to Pinkney
Every Sunday 5pm

Sunday, August 12, 2012

NAACP v. Rev. Pinkney, Round 2

For Immediate Release


Contact: Rev. Edward Pinkney
269-925-0001



WHIRLPOOL AGAIN TRIES A HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF
THE BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN NAACP CHAPTER


The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) of the State of Michigan has once again partnered with Whirlpool Corporation to oust Rev. Edward Pinkney as President of the Benton Harbor Chapter. The NAACP has scheduled a special election for August 16, without giving the activist minister any notice. In an attempt to wrest the presidency away from Rev. Pinkney, NAACP Michigan State President Yvonne White and Vice-President James Gill have been working with Whirlpool, Marcus Robinson, Mayor James Hightower, Superintendent Leonard Cedwood, and certain pastors: Gavin, Wells, Atterberry, and Melvin Burton. Rev. Pinkney led the "Occupy the PGA Tournament" protest that occurred in Benton Harbor on May 23-27, 2012. It was a successful, peaceful demonstration against the oppression that residents of Benton Harbor endure due to an apparent government/corporate merger in that city. Unfortunately, the NAACP, which historically fights on behalf oppressed people, is intent on eliminating Rev. Pinkney for actually doing that work. Whirlpool and Marcus Robinson paid for over two hundred new NAAACP memberships on the requirement that new members vote against Rev Edward Pinkney in a special election. The parties initially tried to oust Rev. Pinkney in April. Rev. Pinkney filed a lawsuit against the civil rights organization, preventing the special election that NAACP officials had planned to occur prior to the "Occupy the PGA Tournament." Regarding the special election this week, Rev. Pinkney said, " I have received the evidence I need to prove corruption and conspiracy by Whirlpool, Marcus Robinson, the pastors, and a few others. We will be back in court, and my $100,00.00 [lawsuit against NAACP] will again be on the table."

"Rev. Pinkney Discussing Local Democracy" is a video embedded below and at YouTube linkhttp://youtu.be/afTVbe8llJI . Rev. Pinkney emphasizes the importance of unity among the people to fight fearlessly for their children's future and for their children's children. He promises to help people anywhere there is oppression. Rev. Pinkney recently traveled to assist human rights advocates in California and Louisiana. He is due in Atlanta, Georgia on August 18, when he will help this writer rally against lawyer fraud, government corruption, criminalizing mental illness, mass incarceration, capital punishment, censorship, the nation's gangstalking program against targeted individuals which operates like the FBI's covert CoIntelPro program that supposedly terminated in the 1970s after congressional hearings by the Church Committee. Surveillance, terrorism and infringements on the rights of private citizens, especially those who stand up for justice, is actually more prevalent now than during that time.


Five links are in this article. Please select "go to page 1" to see it in its entirety on cellphone view. Background regarding the special election and the lawsuit Rev. Pinkney filed against the NAACP is in the article entitled "Rev. Pinkney Sues NAACP" at this linkhttp://freespeakblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/rev-pinkney-sues-naacp.html . Visit B.H. Banco online at http://www.bhbanco.org/ . It is major news that an NAACP chapter president sued the civil rights organization for the right to maintain his position and actually serve oppressed people, but there were few news accounts about the lawsuit. The level of protection the NAACP receives from corporate media may be equal to the NAACP's protection for corporate America from black victims. Many, if not most, blacks who approach the NAACP for help regarding corporate and government wrongs receive little to no assistance. In several of Rev. Pinkney's Blogtalk Radio broadcasts, the activist minister said the NAACP's main concern is hosting banquets and other fundraisers. Rev. Pinkney is not the first chapter president who faced retribution for actually using his office to uplift the organizations' members and bring power to the people. No wonder Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was never a member of the NAACP!

Listen to Rev. Pinkney discuss his lawsuit against the NAACP during his April 8, 2012 Blogtalk Radio broadcast. It is archived at http://www.Blogtalkradio.com/rev-pinkney/2012/04/08/pinkney-to-pinkney - Rev. Pinkney discussed the events that led to the lawsuit and the "Occupy the PGA" demonstration in numerous previous broadcasts. Access the shows archived at Blogtalk anytime using this link http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rev-pinkney , and tune in every Sunday at 5:00pm EST to listen live. Join the discussions on political and social issues by computer or join us by telephone at (347) 994-3644.


Thurgood Marshall, the first of two African-American Justices appointed to the US Supreme Court, was Chief Counsel for the NAACP in 1954, and argued Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka before the high court twice, once in 1952 and once in 1953 (Wikipedia). Marshall probably never imagined a day when NAACP chapter presidents would have to fight the organization for the right to serve the needs of its members instead of catering to corporate sponsors. (Five(5) links are in this article).


Elitists seem to see the entire earth and its inhabitants their personal property. Rev. Pinkney is a man who decided to peacefully resist oppression and lead others in a struggle to secure and maintain their human and civil rights. He will continue this mission whether or not the NAACP has abdicated its role to do likewise.


"Globalization is nothing more than monopoly imperialism, it’s colonialism and neocolonialism on steroids. Instead of several monarchs and trading companies fighting and vying for resources and labor, the power behind the scenes is a small cabal working in collusion and cooperation to control the global financial system, national governments and the whole world. They’ve come a long way since the 1400’s." ~ Junious Stanton

Thursday, August 09, 2012

News of the week


After a fire in an elementary school in BH on Monday evening where voting was to take place Tuesday, residents witnessed a bungled attempt by untrained firefighters to put out the flames. (No one was hurt.) The BH fire and police departments have been merged, and are well below safety standards by all measurements. If the infrastructure and basic services are not greatly improved, the monster behind the utter decay of the city (Whirlpool) will likely, eventually, be responsible for accidents and even deaths.

------------------------------------

What is the motivation for the forcing out of Joe Harris, Marcus Robinson, and Wendy Dant-Chesser? Does it come down to their inability to control and silence Rev. Pinkney?

Word has it this week that Harris would like to talk to Pinkney. Could his motivation have something to do with Whirlpool? Could he be waking up about what this corporation
is actually up to now that he's feeling their wrath?

-------------------------------------

In 2009, before Ron Carter was Benton Harbor city manager, he was paid by the city as a consultant. One fine day he went with a group of Benton Harbor residents to Lansing and was told by the state treasurer that he was not permitted to speak for the residents of BH.

So, why was it that in January 2012 when five government/corporate people went to Lansing, they were permitted to do just that: speak for the residents of BH? The only one who worked in BH was Mayor Hightower, and he "beat" Mayor Cooke in an election that is widely believed to have been fixed by Whirlpool. The other members of this group were:
--Dave Whitwam, retired Whirlpool CEO
--Al Pscholka, State Rep.
--Jeff Noel, Whirlpool vice-president of communciation and public affairs
--Marcus Robinson, then-president of the Consortium for Community Development, recently fired by Whirlpool(word on the street)

Government/corporate people speaking to the state about issues impacting BH residents. Some people mistakenly call our system "democracy."


Monday, August 06, 2012

Joe Harris sells land he shouldn't have


Benton Harbor emergency manager sells parkland he shouldn’t have

Credit Julie Weiss
A sign on the land reads "City of Benton Harbor open public space”. The emergency manager sold the land and construction of a dialysis center is underway.

Updated -

7/16/12 - Scott Geerlings with Zeeland, Michigan based Geerlings Development Company says the company bought the parcel for around $102,000.

Benton Harbor’s emergency manager has sold a piece of land that was supposed to be open for public recreation. lot Now a dialysis center is being built on the undeveloped parkland instead.

The roughly 1.5 acre, grassy parcel was given to the city in exchange for land in Jean Klock Park. That park was part of a deal to build the Jack Nicklaus-signature golf course in Michigan’s poorest city.

Benton Harbor’s state-appointed emergency manager sold the land late last month. He got approval from the state’s treasury department, but not the Department of Natural Resources which supervised the land swap.

“It should’ve been documented well but there is the potential that that detail got lost,” said Steve DeBrabander, who manages grants for the DNR.

“I’m not saying [the city] intentionally did this; they might not have been aware that this was dedicated for public outdoor recreation,” DeBrabander said.

There is a sign on the property that read “City of Benton Harbor open public space.” The DNR found out about the apparent mistake from a citizen.

It’s unclear how much the land was sold for. Calls to Emergency Manager Joe Harris and his assistant last week were not returned.

Harris commented on the land deal to The Herald-Palladium:

But Harris said he doesn't know whose responsibility it was to record the mitigation designation - the state or the city administration at the time the parcel was designated.

"I don't know who dropped the ball," Harris said.

Julie Weiss is a long-standing opponent of the city selling and leasing parts of Jean Klock Park for the Harbor Shore development.

"To me, the big story is that there is no institutional memory of this. And that they’re taking gross advantage of the fact that it’s Harris – who presumably has no accountability for anything before he arrived,” Weiss said.

Harris arrived long after the land swap. Weiss says the state should've done a better job informing local governments of the rules. But a state official says Harris should’ve contacted them first.

The vacant lot is one of five replacement parcels for land in Jean Klock Park. This parcel had not yet been developed into any sort of park.

“These mitigation sites in no way compensate for the lands that they’re replacing. They’re replacing Lake Michigan lakefront. In some case dunes, in some cases actual lake frontage. But they’re very forgettable. There’s nothing special about them at all,” Weiss said.

DeBrabander says city official tell him they will likely allow the dialysis center to continue construction. They’ll look for new land to swap out for a public park instead.

DeBradander says the city would have to purchase new land to convert into a public park to replace the land Harris sold. They’d need to complete an environmental assessment and take public comment on a potential conversion. --To see comments, go to:

http://www.michiganradio.org/post/benton-harbor-emergency-manager-sells-parkland-he-shouldn-t-have

Saturday, August 04, 2012

Friday, August 03, 2012

Whirlpool merges with government: Fascism in Berrien County

Mlive and the Herald Palladium report that Benton Harbor/St. Joe power players are doing some fanagling and switching places. Facism can be a delicate business at times.

Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joseph Harris says he is in the dark about the state's plan for his job. Will the town move back to local control, or will someone new be appointed and the emergency manager law remains in place?

Harris said he's being forced out by political adversaries at Whirlpool. But for the past 2 years, Harris has been working with Whirlpool against the community. He told Mlive.com that a meeting of five Benton Harbor area "community leaders" took place in Lansing and sparked the state's desire for transition.

Attending the meeting were:

James Hightower, Benton Harbor Mayor
Dave Whitwam, retired Whirlpool CEO
Al Pscholka, State Rep.
Jeff Noel, Whirlpool vice-president of communciation and public affairs
Marcus Robinson, then-president of the Consortium for Community Development, recently fired by Whirlpool (word on the street)

It was a stark example of fascism: government and corporate interests making public policy decisions.

Each of them gave a slightly different reason for the meeting's purpose:

*Pscholka confirmed that he attended the meeting, but said, "That meeting and the fiscal accountability act (emergency manager law) is really not about politics and personalities."

*Whitwam said the meeting was about trying to understand the transition process to return the city to local control.

*Noel said, "For me, the discussion was more around what can be done to help the city, how do we rebuild the city, create partnerships, etc., for the city to be self-sufficient."

*"My impression was that it (the meeting) was about...being the new mayor, we needed to discuss how to reset," Hightower said.

*Robinson said the Lansing meeting was about bringing the city back to local control, but that wasn't a reflection on the job Harris has done.


EM Joe Harris said Lansing has not brought him into the discussion. He stated that it was "interesting" that Al Pscholka went to Lansing with Jeff Noel and Dave Whitwam and that "Whirlpool's finger prints are all over this." Who does Harris think his boss has been for the past 2 years?

Harris questions why, if the meeting was about a transition plan back to local government control, he was not included in the meeting.

"I am not accusing anybody of anything," Harris said, "I am trying to figure this out." Right. As if you're just now waking up to what's been going on in Berrien County (for decades.)

One would have to be living in a cave for the past fifty years (or more) to be unaware of Whirlpool's control of city and county government, and that they are one of the major corporate players dominating state of Michigan policies and laws.

Facebook comments:

Catherine Sanders Phillips
LOL what paper was this in?
July 26 · Like

Denise Ringler Nash
Wow, he makes himself sound like "man of the year" or something. Yet he sold property he had no business selling! I'm sure all that JOY expressed was by the 1%.
July 27 Like · 1

Marion Townsend
I guess political reasons means he sucks at his job?
July 27 Like · 2

Jan BenDor
And he thinks he got his job for nonpolitical reasons? Whirlpool wanted him to get that whole city dismantled and sold off by now. No wonder they want him out. Too slow.
July 27 Like · 3

Carl F. Brooks
MY TWO CENTS: Joe Harris attracted too much state and national media attention with his brazen attitude and actions. The Republicans and corporate CEOs want to replace him with a quiet, sneaky, conniving, nerd like Snyder.
July 27 Like · 7

Kelly Weaver
It proves that keeping the spotlight on these little dictators works. The more we keep it up the harder it is for them to conduct their backroom deals.
July 29 Like · 2

http://www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/harris-senses-he-may-be-replaced/article_08f6e6a1-4179-5351-8c95-6f63158b369f.html

http://www.facebook.com/groups/michiganpetitioners/permalink/430620643646577/