(This piece was written by Rev. Pinkney when he was still in Marquette.)
black autonomy network community organization
working for economic and social justice in Benton Harbor, MI
Monday, January 23, 2017
Marquette Branch Prison: Hostility Inside the Wall
Sunday, January 22, 2017
We Must Confront the Evil Capitalist Empire!
The capitalists just collect the profits. This atrocity of gouging the poor for life-saving necessities exposes the very core of capitalism: a system where profits for the tiny few come before human needs.
A legislator is a parasite. He is one that makes the law for his political buddies, a member of the legislative body, an organized body of parasites. The legislator is a non-producer who produces absolutely nothing. The worker produces all the material wealth, which is now in the possession of the capitalist class that was produced by the workers.
None of the expenses of production come out of corporate profits. All expenses are, in fact, paid for by the labor of the workers who produce the products, and who are also the consumers of these products.
None of the costs and expenses of business come out of the pockets of the commanders of capital. To the capitalist, everything in the world is free--even the cost of war and all the dead bodies. The police, the schools, the prisons, the roads, trains, planes and automobiles, and the most important: their very own taxes.
These are all expenses paid for by the labor of the working classes and the taxes we are forced to pay out of our earnings. We workers are paid only a tiny proportion, as little as the boss can get away with, of the actual wealth we produce through our labor. It's factored in with all the other expenses on the production line. The prices are determined by calculating the desired profits the capitalists want and expect to see from the sale of these products, so they raise the price of the drugs as high as possible and lower the wages as much as possible to ensure their profits.
Judges are also parasites. They produce nothing. A parasite depends on the workers or taxes or something else for their income or existence, or even support without making any useful or adequate return. For example, judges like Judge Dennis Wiley, Art Cotter, Sterling Schrock, Angela Pasula, and Schofield are all parasites who work for the establishment to oppress the people. Along with prosecutor Mike Sepic, they are worthless and bring nothing to the table.
I am reminded every day of the German Jews who watched a monumental evil gather itself against them, all the while assuring one another that things weren't as bad as they seemed, that their country would soon return to its senses. But in the meantime, the box cars were being filled with over 5 million German Jews on their way to the death camps. Maybe we are not alarmist enough.
This nation's hypocrisy has no limits. This nation has a large credibility gap. I call it lying to the people. It's up to the people today to make your fellow citizens see the other side of America. In your great numbers lies great hope. We must move from words to deeds. We must go back to our communities and organize against fascism. We must eliminate the parasites and let another world be born. I believe that the unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final words. In reality that is why, right now, temporary defeat is stronger than evil triumphant. We must confront the evil empire!
-Rev. Edward Pinkney
A legislator is a parasite. He is one that makes the law for his political buddies, a member of the legislative body, an organized body of parasites. The legislator is a non-producer who produces absolutely nothing. The worker produces all the material wealth, which is now in the possession of the capitalist class that was produced by the workers.
None of the expenses of production come out of corporate profits. All expenses are, in fact, paid for by the labor of the workers who produce the products, and who are also the consumers of these products.
None of the costs and expenses of business come out of the pockets of the commanders of capital. To the capitalist, everything in the world is free--even the cost of war and all the dead bodies. The police, the schools, the prisons, the roads, trains, planes and automobiles, and the most important: their very own taxes.
These are all expenses paid for by the labor of the working classes and the taxes we are forced to pay out of our earnings. We workers are paid only a tiny proportion, as little as the boss can get away with, of the actual wealth we produce through our labor. It's factored in with all the other expenses on the production line. The prices are determined by calculating the desired profits the capitalists want and expect to see from the sale of these products, so they raise the price of the drugs as high as possible and lower the wages as much as possible to ensure their profits.
Judges are also parasites. They produce nothing. A parasite depends on the workers or taxes or something else for their income or existence, or even support without making any useful or adequate return. For example, judges like Judge Dennis Wiley, Art Cotter, Sterling Schrock, Angela Pasula, and Schofield are all parasites who work for the establishment to oppress the people. Along with prosecutor Mike Sepic, they are worthless and bring nothing to the table.
I am reminded every day of the German Jews who watched a monumental evil gather itself against them, all the while assuring one another that things weren't as bad as they seemed, that their country would soon return to its senses. But in the meantime, the box cars were being filled with over 5 million German Jews on their way to the death camps. Maybe we are not alarmist enough.
This nation's hypocrisy has no limits. This nation has a large credibility gap. I call it lying to the people. It's up to the people today to make your fellow citizens see the other side of America. In your great numbers lies great hope. We must move from words to deeds. We must go back to our communities and organize against fascism. We must eliminate the parasites and let another world be born. I believe that the unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final words. In reality that is why, right now, temporary defeat is stronger than evil triumphant. We must confront the evil empire!
-Rev. Edward Pinkney
Monday, January 16, 2017
Listen to the New Rustbelt Abolition Radio
In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, listen to the first episode of Rustbelt Abolition Radio! This is an excellent answer to anyone who says abolition is “not realistic” or that “it is not time.” Abolish prisons and police now! Thank you to the folks at Rustbelt Abolition Radio.
Click here to listen.
Click here to listen.
In
this episode we turn to recent news of the deepening impacts of the
biggest prison strike in U.S. History, as we look at Kinross
Correctional Facility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We also speak with
Professor Liat Ben-Moshé on our carceral society and the political
imaginary of abolition. We wrap with a phone interview with Chaz, an
imprisoned trans woman in Michigan who is fighting for queer and trans
prisoners’ liberation.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Support Requested for Fellow Inmate
Mr. Juan Hawkins is having a tough time, having lost his cousin a few weeks ago. He is a fellow inmate with Rev. Pinkney at their level I (lowest security level) facility. Rev. Pinkney requests that supporters send Juan letters/cards of support. Also, if you are willing, Juan would like a longer-term pen pal. Connection to the outside is so important for morale.
You can write to Juan at:
Juan Hawkins, #261184
Brooks C.F.
2500 S. Sheridan Dr.
Muskegon, MI 49444
You can write to Juan at:
Juan Hawkins, #261184
Brooks C.F.
2500 S. Sheridan Dr.
Muskegon, MI 49444
Friday, January 13, 2017
Rev. Edward Pinkney's Work Pays Off!
Berrien County Hires New Chief Public Defender
Berrien County recently introduced the new Berrien County public defender after Rev. Edward Pinkney, along with BANCO and allies, advocated for over 15 years for a public defender's office. This is a major victory for the people!
Eight new defense attorneys, who will represent indigent clients as part of Berrien County's first public defenders office, were introduced to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners last month. During the commisioners' administration committee meeting, Prosecutor Mike Sepic said he might need more prosecutors to keep up with an increased workload.
In over 20 years, court-appointed attorneys Ernest White, Scott Sanford, Richard Sammis, Fuller, and James Jessie never won a single case in Berrien County on behalf of indigent defendants. This group refused to file any motion for the defendants. This very same group worked with former prosecutors Jim Cherry and Art Cotter, and now prosecutor Mike Sepic, to send as many defendants as possible to prison.
Berrien County provided the poorest quality of legal defense through 15 to 18 contract attorneys who handled about 5,000 felony and misdemeanor cases per year.
First Rev. Pinkney argued for over 15 years and then the statewide commission took up the argument for an indigent defense system with a lower case load and independent of the judges and the court, who previously ran the Berrien County indigent defense system.
Chief Public Defender Carl Macpherson selected his team from 50 applicants and 20 finalists, who were interviewed. Among the new attorneys are Jennifer Lamp, a Jackson County attorney who has been practicing for 15 years and Stephanie Farkas of Oakland County with six years of experience. The other attorneys are Ryan Seale of Kent County who has five years' experience practicing law, Jonathan Baber of Wayne County with three years, Brandon Barthelemy of Kenty County with one year, Jennifer Field with one year, and Kaitlin Locke of Kent County with six months.
Macpherson, a University of Michigan graduate, has worked in criminal defense systems in Washington, D.C., Portland, OR, and Washtenaw County in Michigan.
This is the very first step. Mr. Macpherson must be strong and committed to justice for all. He has to deal with the power of the land grabbing, job out-sourcing, blood-sucking criminal enterprise of Whirlpool Corporation that has its headquarters in Benton Harbor.
Mr. Macpherson must also stand tall and deal with the corrupt judges. Judge Dennis Wiley, Judge Charles LaSata, Judge Schoffield, Judge Art Cotter, Judge Angela Pasula, and we cannot forget the most corrupt of all prosecutors, Mike Sepic.
County Commissioner Bill Chickering said the wild card is the (corrupt) judges and how the judges react to the new system.
We must confront the corrupt justice system. Let's make this struggle a victory for all the victims of the corrupt criminal justice system in every city and town in America.
Wednesday, January 04, 2017
"Update on My Case" by Reverend Edward Pinkney
Prison Radio has recorded a new piece with Rev. Pinkney. Listen and share!
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