Marquette Branch Prison: Now I Believe I Know How It Felt

I am saying to you my friends that often the path to freedom will carry you through a prison, to sacrifice for another is the greatest thing in the whole wide world. In a real sense, the people are the conscience of America. We are its troubled souls, and we will continue to insist that right be done.

Now I believe I know how it felt to be a slave in Jamestown, Virginia during slavery. Now I believe I know how it felt to be black, when the commanders deployed K-9 dogs to attack you as marchers, who just want equal rights. Now I believe I know how it felt to be a Jew in Nazi Germany.

I am in Marquette Branch Prison, better known as the concentration camp, the weather is about -10 below zero, with a wind chill of about -40 below zero. This concentration camp must be in Siberia! No it is Marquette Michigan, with a deeply rooted, hidden, unrevealed, unskilled, unprofessional, uneducated, out-of-control group of rogue officers. The public, the tax payers, are paying the price of unchecked discretion. The major problem we face as prisoners is the threatening, harassing, and the intimidating behavior, which is basically white terrorism. It is up to the public, the tax payers, to stop the corruption and save tax dollars.

A correctional officer Sgt. Hoult stated: I don't talk to convicts. He forgot the prisoner is the reason he has a job. As a correctional officer you are just one step from being a convict yourself. One drink, one domestic assault, one murder, you are just one step from doing time yourself!

I received a letter from a tax-payer who lives in Marquette, Michigan. The public is waking up. She said: "I want to thank you so much for standing up to corruption inside Marquette Prison and for your bravery and courage inside the belly of the beast, to speak up and stand for Christ. You are a hero and you will be on our prayer list. I have for years believed that the prison system was in place to protect me, thanks to you and your wonderful work, you have educated the people in Marquette. My organization and the teacher union will be signing a resolution on your behalf. I just wish I could do more to help a wonderful man like you. We will be joining you to help close down the Marquette Branch Prison, also recruiting others to help with this project. I wish I could bring you a basket of good treats and encouragement. We the people of Marquette Michigan are in full support of your hard work. Thank-you." 

This was a tremendously heart warming letter. We must stop the Michigan Department of Corrections from stealing tax dollars from the tax-payers. The hypocrisy of Michigan Department of Corrections is unlimited.

Rev. Pinkney