Prosecutor Mike Sepic Only Represents the White Community

Here is the latest saga in the ruthless pursuit of the corporate rule gripping the city of Benton Harbor, Michigan.  Whirlpool Corporation, is now responsible for the death of 79 people in the London high rise apartment fire, due to a bad appliance in June of 2017.

The former puppet Mayor of Benton Harbor, James Hightower, along with the county clerk Sharon Tyler, Election Clerk Carolyn Toliver, who have never sworn in and finger printed and turned the recall petition over to the sheriff deputy without a warrant, subpoena or court order, Sheriff Paul Bailey 's  leadership is questionable. The sheriff department is in shambles, more than fifty women have been sexually assaulted and sexually tortured by Berrien County sheriff department and Prosecutor Mike Sepic and Judge Sterling Schrock, Judge Scott Schofield, Judge Charles LaSata, Judge Art Cotter, and Judge Dennis Wiley; the corruption rolls on!

Prosecutor Mike Sepic attempted to get a subpoena to raid the new defense court appointed attorney's office. I am looking forward to that action by Prosecutor Mike Sepic. The judges and prosecutor Mike Sepic are working together against the new court appointed attorneys.

In the government, the prosecutor's office represents the state and the people in each county. Prosecutor Mike Sepic only represents the white community or just white people. The county prosecutor is vested with the power to represent the people on behalf of the commonwealth's interest.The prosecutor begins kicking the political football down the road, by using their propaganda machine, which is the fascist Herald Palladium newspaper, by influencing people with the promise of protection of the victims of crime and safe guarding, when actually innocent people are wrongfully convicted.

Prosecutors, like Mike Sepic, are sworn to search for the truth, but Mike Sepic takes pleasure in poisoning the black community, knowing that only 33% of the white people in Berrien County are good people and 67% are bad to the bone.

Prosecutor Mike Sepic egregious practice of failing to seek the truth to prevent the actual innocent from suffering a gross miscarriage of justice. Our broken system continues to rear its ugly head by wrongfully imprisoning innocent people.

There is a timely quote by the late Senator Barry Goldwater about the system,"Now those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to enforce their own version of heaven on earth and let me remind you, they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyranny."  It is frightening to know that our lives are subject to these elected officials, who are sworn to uphold their oath to seek the truth at all cost but refuse to do so.

Historically these elected officials have engaged in misrepresenting the truth by twisting the laws to trap tax paying citizens to pad their resume’ with convictions of innocent victims. The question is, when they the protector become the predator, do our lives really matter to prosecutor and judges?   

How Berrien County is kept in the dark

After a Benton Harbor man was found in St. Joseph floating dead in the river last week, a far from trivial event, it was reported this way to Berrien County, Michigan by WNDU-TV and WSTB-TV:

(close paraphrase) "Timothy Allen was found dead in the St. Joe river; foul play is not suspected. Now the weather..."

It's called propaganda, and Berrien County media are leaders in the field. Truthful, thorough reporting results in citizen action - just what officials and the Whirlpool Corporation don't want.

An immense travesty has just occurred in Berrien. Many in Benton Harbor believe Mr. Allen was murdered, possibly by St. Joe Twnshp. cops, the last to see him alive. Berrien County has a sordid history of African-American "disappearances."

A man turning up dead in the river has a chilling effect on a community. 25 women, at least, have disappeared from Benton Harbor in the last couple decades. Imagine how this impacts the heart and soul of a community. But that's the point. Destroy Benton Harbor by any means necessary for the redevelopment of the land. Physical and mental Hell.

Think of the possibilities of action and community outreach if media, on a daily basis gave us full reporting. You know, Journalism.

*********

Whirlpool's disdain of American workers

The Whirlpool Corporation is proving itself to be hostile toward American workers as they continue to eliminate factories and thousands of jobs from places like Newton, Iowa; Evansville, Ill.; and Ft. Smith, Ark.

Radio & TV personality Ed Schultz has been naming the corporation and it's crimes against American workers recently on his shows.

Geographically isolated Benton Harbor has had it's livelihood withdrawn by the Whirlpool Corporation. In place of jobs, residents are now concerned with survival and avoiding police profiling in their once thriving city. It's a desperate existence of which most in Michigan are unaware.

More trouble for retired Berrien County judge
Lynda Tolen facing domestic violence charge.

LOU MUMFORD South Bend Tribune, December 29, 2011

A retired Berrien County judge with a history of substance abuse issues is in trouble once again.

Chief Assistant Berrien County Prosecutor Mike Sepic confirmed Thursday that Lynda Tolen was arraigned this week in Berrien County Trial Court in St. Joseph on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. She was arrested Dec. 22, following a complaint by a woman Sepic identified as Lisa Brasseur, and she spent the night in jail before posting 10 percent of a $1,500 bond, Sepic said.

A case conference has been set for Tuesday, he said, but that’s in jeopardy because he has asked the state Attorney General’s office to move the case to another county. Tolen’s connection to Berrien Trial Court makes it all but certain Sepic’s petition will be granted.

The former wife of former Berrien County Prosecutor Jim Cherry, who died of cancer in 2007, Tolen, 60, served 20 days in jail last year following a pair of drunken-driving offenses. The first occurred in March 2010 in St. Joseph, resulting in bond restrictions which she violated four months later when she was arrested in Benzie County in northern Michigan on yet another drunken-driving charge. The case was handled by the St. Joseph County (Mich.) prosecutor’s office and a district judge from that county.

The charges weren’t the first time she’d been accused of drunken driving.

In February 1995, while she was serving as a county Trial Court judge in Niles, she was driving home from work and crashed her car on the St. Joseph Valley Parkway (U. S. 31 bypass). A blood-alcohol test at the scene registered a reading of 0.109, a little above the then minimum standard of 0.10.

The next month, it was announced she’d receive only a traffic ticket for careless driving, based on the lack of a subsequent blood-alcohol test. Handling of the situation and the case’s outcome quickly became points of contention for many in the county.

She resigned her judgeship in 2008 after 21 years. From 1996 until her retirement, she presided over the Trial Court’s Civil Division.

Staff writer Lou Mumford: lmumford@sbtinfo.com, 269-687-3551

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-lynda-tolen-facing-domestic-violence-charge-20111229,0,1526563.story

Bill Wolf, Berrien county administrator

Bill Wolf is the current county administrator for Berrien County, Michigan. He attends all weekly county commissioner meetings.

Years ago, Wolf was mayor of Benton Harbor. In The Other Side of the River, a book about Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, by Kotlowitz, Wolf is quoted, beginning with a joke and ending up infuriated:

"Blacks can publicly accuse whites of being racist, but whites can never do that to blacks. One thing we joke about is that there is a Black Congressional Caucus and a Black conference of Mayors. What if we created a White Congressional Caucus and a White Conference of Mayors? The People wouldn't tolerate it... There is a clear double standard and it's infuriating."

Rev. Edward Pinkney has commented on this quotation by stating, "All that's missing is for Wolf to talk about the need for a Klan rally in Berrien County."

OCCUPY the county commissioner meetings. Every Thursday, 10:30am, 701 Main St., St. Joe.

People in Berrien County who could facilitate the search for Timothy Allen but refuse

Chief county prosecutor Art Cotter
Sheriff Paul Bailey
St. Joseph Township Police Chief Ross Bates
County Commissioners:
Dave Pagel
Mac Elliott
John LaMore
Debra Panozzo
Marletta Seats
Jon Hinkelman
Zach Perkins
Bob Wooley
Mamie L. Yarbrough
Bryan Bixby
Jeanette Leahey
Cathy Thieneman
Andy Vavra
Rep. Fred Upton
Benton Harbor Police Chief Roger Lange
State Rep. Al Pscholka
State Sen. John Proos

Rev. Pinkney has received new information indicating that St. Joe Twnshp. police spoke to Mr. Allen in a rude manner. The video is in the possession of BH police who refuse to allow citizens to view it, except for Allen's family.

In Case Anybody Still Needs Proof that Berrien County, Michigan is Right Up There With THE MOST RACIST Places in the US, Here It Is

A Benton Harbor man has been missing for almost three weeks, and NO ONE IN AN OFFICIAL POSITION has lifted a finger. No one in law enforcement, no one in a county position, no one in St. Joe where he was last seen, no one at the state or federal level, NO ONE.

We know what actions would be taken if a white St. Joe resident disappeared. The list is below. We can add canine searches to the list.

--It has been over 3 weeks since Timothy Allen's visit to Lakeland Hospital in St. Joe. On the evening of Nov. 9 Allen left St. Joe, a 99% white community, and walked over the Napier Ave. bridge toward his Benton Harbor home.

Police were the last to see him according to his family at this Blogtalkradio interview http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rev-pinkney/2011/11/20/pinkney-to-pinkney.

St. Joe township police officer chief Ross Bates stated that an officer saw him walking on the road and ask him to walk on the sidewalk. Another officer said he was given a ride by the St. Joe police. Police were the last to see Timothy Allen.

Allen was in contact with family members everyday. He is 5'7", weighs 155lbs., and was wearing dark pants and a jacket (either brown, red, or orange.) Tip line: 269-849-0438, 804-363-9984; or call Rev. Pinkney.

Allen's family lacks the resources to drag the lake near the bridge where police claim they saw him last. They have no money for a reward at this time. Please help them.

Rev. Pinkney, 269-925-0001
banco9342@sbcglobal.net
BANCO, 1940 Union St., Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Senior PGA Championship, May 2012, Benton Harbor:
Get ready to demonstrate. ~Occupy the PGA~
Every Sunday, 5pm, Pinkney to Pinkney show
Blogtalkradio.com, or listen on your phone: 347-994-3644

Timothy Allen, African-American, Benton Harbor resident, Missing for Three Weeks

Here's what would have happened if this was a white St. Joseph resident (or most likely any white person in Berrien County, Michigan) --

News media would have been on top of the story on a daily basis

All law enforcement in the county would be involved, including the FBI

There would be door-to-door questioning

Rewards would be offered

Dragging of the river would take place

The county commissioners would be involved

Elected officials would make statements

And more..

What happens when a black human being is missing --

Nothing

If you need proof that racism exists in Berrien County, here it is. Think what this says to a community that the proper actions are not taken by the county they live in to make them safe.

Berrien County Commission meeting Nov. 3, 2011

For many years I have been attending Berrien County Commissioner meetings. I always leave the meeting with the feeling I've been in a room with racists.

People who come to speak to the commissioners are given just 2 minutes to say whatever they want. On Nov. 3 I decided to get their attention.

First I gave some information on the Perkins family from Benton Harbor. Their house burned down and they have nine children. It was obvious that this group of officials could care less about the family because they are Black. Not once in the many meetings I've attended has this board done anything for the people of Benton Harbor. Not once. For them, BH doesn't exist.
Throughout history this has been the case. The oppressors can't think about the suffering they cause - it would force them to develop consciences.

I was able to capture their attention when I told them about the country of Libya. This information is what got the nation's most racist county visibly upset:

At least until very recently, all of the following facts have been the way of life in Libya.
1. Electricity is free for all citizens.
2. Banks are state owned. Loans are given with zero % interest.
3. Having a home is considered a human right in Libya.
4. Newlyweds receive $60,000.00 dinar to buy their first apt. and help start a family.
5. Education and medical treatment are free. Before Gaddafi the literacy rate was 25%; today it's 83%.
6. Should a citizen want to farm, they receive land, house, equipment, seeds, and livestock.
7. Should a citizen need education or medical treatment not available in the country, the gov. funds them to go abroad. They would also receive $2300.00 a month for accommodation and car allowance.
8. When citizens buy cars, they are subsidized for half the price.
9. The price of gas is 14 cents per liter.
10. Libya has no external debt and its reserves amounting to $150 billion are now frozen globally.
11. If a citizen is unable to get employment after graduation, the state pays the average salary.
12. A portion of every oil sale is credited directly to the bank accounts of citizens.
13. When a mother gives birth, she receives $5000.00. [Child care is viewed as an extremely important job.]
14. 40 loaves of bread costs 15 cents.
15. Gaddfi carried out the world's largest irrigation project known as the great manmade river project - to make water readily available throughout the desert country.
16. The US called Gaddafi a dictator.

Rev. Pinkney

Berrien County Court Report

People from all over the world engage in court watching with Rev. Edward Pinkney to see the extreme corruption and racism for themselves. The reputation is spreading.

And, it says a lot about the government of the state of Michigan that it allows this unspeakably inhumane court to operate unfettered and uncontrolled.

On Tuesday October 25 Chae Hwa Roo from South Korea and J. Gilberto from Mexico joined Rev. Pinkney and were shocked at what they saw. Judge Dennis Wiley belittled a parade of black people who went before him. His treatment was extremely harsh.

On Wednesday October 26 attorney Tat Parish, one of the greatest defense attorneys in the country, was attacked by judge Dennis Wiley. He held his own again the madman.

Attorney Parish's client had taken a drug test which came back positive for marijuana. Parish told Wiley his client had not smoked any drugs in the last ten days. Judge Wiley called Parish a liar and stated marijuana only stays in the system
for seven days. He had his facts wrong again.

Marijuana is stored in the fat cells of the body, in the brain, liver and kidney. THC can stay in a person's body for 90 days and in the hair for between 3 months to 3 years.

The reality is that America, which proclaims itself the land of the free, has the most dishonest and dangerous legal system of any developed nation.

Legal corruption is covering America like a blanket. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. We must Occupy courtooms in every county in the US.

Is extortion too strong a word?

MSU law professor Jeanice Dagher represented a young man from Benton Harbor in Berrien County's notorious courthouse Friday.

Judge Wiley, more madman than usual, denied her request to reduce court costs and fines. Atty. Dagher explained that a defendant pleading guilty is normally not charged nearly what Wiley was charging: over $1,200.00. Wiley is used to the Berrien way (the court functioning partly as a cash cow) and told her with crazy sounding strong language that he could and would charge whatever he wanted.

"Election" in Benton Harbor

Rev. Pinkney believes that Benton Harbor's Emergency Manager, Joseph Harris, will be gone soon. The main reason for this is that Whirlpool will fix the upcoming November election so that James Hightower becomes the new mayor. Hightower is a "Whirlpool man." With him at the helm, Whirlpool will actually be at the helm. Harris will have served his function and will no longer be needed. He has been paid very well, $132K per year, to carry out the corporate agenda of removal of a population through illegal imprisonments and other horrors for the purpose of redevelopment of the land.

You may be wondering why an election is being held in a city with an Emergency Manager; once an EM is appointed, democracy is eradicated, right? Well, there are certain things pertaining to a city charter that cannot be altered. Therefore, Harris (Whirlpool) has seven items on the ballot besides the mayoral decision. Two of them are - the effort to eliminate the wards in Benton Harbor (easier to control elections), and changing the city commission term from 4 years to 2 years.

Wiley, the Whirlpool drunk on the bench

On Tuesday, Judge Wiley denied a young Mexican man the right to have his criminal record expunged. The reason? He was a minority.

Judge Dennis Wiley is openly violating the constitutional rights of minorities. The majority of Berrien County court employees know about this drunk, racist judge. He and his blatant corruption make Berrien County a third world nation.

Wiley has to be the most crooked judge in the whole judiciary. He has shown wanton negligence in at least over 75% of his cases. His conduct, among other judges, is the subject of a criminal investigation by a law center.

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.

Berrien County Court Report from Rev. Pinkney

Pinkney, a daily court observer, was joined by two people this week, one from S. Korea and one from Mexico. Both are working with the Institute for International Cooperation and Development (IICD) Michigan located in Dowagiac, Mich. The Mexican man had a strong reaction to the proceedings, remarking that:

"In this court, all they do is extract money and imprison people. In Mexico, the defense attorneys fight for the defendant. In this court they give up on them. And, in Mexico, many judges are corrupt because they are terrified of the drug criminals. What they do is assist them, out of fear." (In Berrien County, the criminals come in the form of a land-hungry corporation...)

The South Korean woman said she couldn't have imagined that a court could be so corrupt in the United States.

The two visitors witnessed many miscarriages of justice including Judge Wiley giving Antonio Smith 90 days in jail for contempt of court (scroll down to Sept. 9 for info), and sentencing a man about to die to jail. He was on a breathing tank and using a walker.

Report from the Berrien County courthouse
by Rev. Edward Pinkney

I have seen collusion between prosecutors, defense attys., and judges hundreds and hundreds of times in this courthouse.

Early this week I was eye-witness to a crime against humanity. Court-appointed atty. Scott Sanford told his client, Antonio Smith, to plead guilty "or else." Smith refused to plead guilty to a crime he did not commit. So, Sanford told Judge Dennis Wiley that Smith was late for court (he definitely was not late).

Wiley charged Smith with contempt of court; Smith had to put up $7500.00. He was taken to jail.

How long will this go on in Berrien? When will the people demand JUSTICE in their COURT?

Comment by Paula, a St. Joe resident, from a
Friday, October 08, 2010 post:

"It is very evident that political neglect, oppression, racism and discrimination are alive, well and thriving in St. Joseph/Berrien County"

http://bhbanco.blogspot.com/2010/10/it-is-very-evident-that-political.html

The comment: "My respect and sympathies to Mr. Peeks family. I am so sorry this happened. For the record I am a white St. Joseph resident who believes fully
that the sentencing for Paige Karsten would have had a very different outcome if the situation had been reversed. I am abhorred at this conviction and believe it is very unfair to Mr. Peek's family. I do believe if Mr. Peek had been drinking and driving a vehicle and ran into the back of Karsten's vehicle killing her, all hell would be breaking loose in St. Joe. I am sick of this double standard and it does make St. Joseph, residents look racist. (which we are not all that way.)
I would have liked to have seen this woman get more time, the Mi laws are for 15 yrs. for OWI and causing a death. I believe people who drink and drive should get the maximum penalty, and I don't care if there is a baby at home, whether she is a blond or not or if her parents live in an affluent neighborhood or not. Again my sympathies to you and your family may the Lord help you heal. God Bless."

California Teachers Protest Cuts, Gov. Snyder Heckled at Parade Allison Kilkenny, May 9, 2011

--Good article from The Nation, except for the fact that one important word is missing: Whirlpool


...In Michigan, protesters greeted Gov. Rick Snyder during Benton Harbor’s annual parade. The governor has become the center of much controversy lately due to his statewide budget that includes deep cuts in education, while providing billions in tax breaks for businesses, and his proto-fascist use of appointed “emergency manages” to reject, modify, or terminate the terms of any existing contracts or collective bargaining agreements and dissolve local governing bodies of schools and cities.

Activists chanted “Recall Rick” as the governor passed.

Some of the protesters, who were led by the AFL-CIA, came from as far away as Kentucky.

"People are waking up," said Betsy Coffia, who traveled from Traverse City, Mich. to protest the parade. "Michigan didn't have a Wisconsin, things just sneaked in behind us. We're starting to realize that unless we the people start getting engaged, and make our voices heard, we're going to lose what we thought we had."

Michigan Rep. Al Pscholka was also scheduled to appear in the parade, but declined to participate after he heard about the scheduled protest.

Pscholka said he was “deeply disappointed and angered” about the news of the protests, and while the protesters have a right to exercise their First Amendment liberties at the parade, “that doesn’t make it appropriate.”

There may be some sore feelings on the part of Pscholka due to the fact that his own constituents are trying to force him out of office via recall for a variety of offenses, including his role as the author of the Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) legislation.

Conveniently, the new EFM rules could abet Pscholka’s finances.

In addition to being the state Representative from the area that includes Benton Harbor, Pscholka is a former aide to Congressman Fred Upton, a man who has deep ties into shoreline development efforts all along Lake Michigan including in Benton Harbor…

Pscholka himself was the president of the Board of Directors of the Cornerstone Alliance in 2008, the group that developed the Harbor Shores golf course and luxury residential development that snagged some of Benton Harbor's public park for its own use. This is a fact he conveniently left off his campaign site's About page when he ran for Congressman.

The first use of the new EFM law to take over a city's government was right in Benton Harbor, the area that Rep. Pscholka represents and where he has deep financial interests. And the first thing EFM Joseph Harris did after dismissing the City Council was to rejigger the Planning Commission and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the two groups who make crucial decisions regarding shoreline development in Benton Harbor. Harris replaced some of their members with new members selected by him.

With that blatant conflict of interest in mind, it’s no surprise residents of Benton Harbor want to recall Pscholka. Here is a representative using, and in some cases changing, the laws to benefit his financial self-interest.
http://www.thenation.com/node/160516

Niles, Michigan fulfilled it's grant requirement; no longer needs black officer

Racism doesn't get much more straightforward. A couple years ago, the Niles police dept. applied for a grant to build a new station, but was rejected because the force was all white. By hiring Ivery Cross, the grant was awarded. He's now being framed (see post below.) It seems he's popular with the townspeople, but the (now white) police department wants him gone.

Berrien county uses it's courthouses to ruin African-Americans. That fact is crystal clear. Ivery Cross has had to appear in court 3 times recently; each time the court room was packed with Niles residents, blacks and whites in equal numbers. Tomorrow, Tuesday April 12, is the preliminary examination, where his 19 yr. old white accuser will testify. (If you'd like to attend, the Berrien county southern court is in Niles.)

Frame-ups in Berrien county, Michigan are, shall we say, thorough. Not only was Ivery Cross fired immediately after the allegation was made against him in March, but the bank in Niles where he had his house and car loan refused to take his money. Yes, these things occurred because of an ALLEGATION - neither police dept. or bank knew if it was true. Or, maybe they both knew it was false...

Berrien County displays overt racism again and again and again

Now they're framing a 25 year old, college educated, star athelete, African-American, hometown Niles police officer

How do we know it's a frame-up? Well, it's no stretch whatsoever to believe it in this county, one of America's most bigoted. In fact, it's sort of a "duh?" moment. But here's some evidence: the first reports named the location where officer Ivery Cross supposedly sexually molested a 19 year old white male as a Niles jail cell. Oops. Cells have cameras. Now, reports have it happening in the jail bathroom - as stated by head prosecutor Art Cotter, major player in the life-threatening and life-destroying Berrien county courthouse. The 19 year old has a record, of course, making him easily bought.

Media like the Niles Star actually published details of the alleged assault. Remember the old adage about newspapers (media) playing "judge, jury, and executioner?" For examples of this, simply google: Ivery Cross and sexual assault.

Killer Hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan

In Benton Harbor, the everyday vernacular for Lakeland Hospital has been "Killer Hospital" for eight or so years.

Sensationalism is not what we're after here, only truth. It is in this spirit we post another group of BH residents' experiences at Lakeland.

The BH community is well aware of what people go through at Lakeland; these unfortunate events should not remain concealed.

We are awaiting word from Lakeland that the hospital is using part of their enormous profits to hire an outside investigation of these allegations. It is well beyond the point at which an inside investigation would be appropriate.

1. Mr. Sawyer, age 20, was given incorrect diagnosis and medication. He died in the hospital. His family stated that white nurses were very disrespectful and forced the family out of the hospital after the death.

2. L. Anderson accompanied her mother to Lakeland to have a toe removed. The doctor mistakenly took off half of another toe as well. The patient was extremely upset. Smiling and laughing, the nurses joked about this patient having only three and a half toes.

3. Derrick Atkins had a kidney transplant in Chicago. Back home he wasn't feeling well so his wife Debra took him to Lakeland. His previous surgery was obvious to medical staff, but Debra reminded them anyways that her husband now required special medication. Incorrect medication was given to him. His wife took him to Chicago where doctors stated that Lakeland should have known better. He died in the Chicago hospital. Debra stated that Lakeland nurses and the doctor were unprofessional and rude.

4. Ora G. had a blood clot and was in a serious and dangerous health situation when she was taken to the Lakeland Intensive Care Unit. She was in pain and calling for help when a nurse arrived and said, "Don't you know we have other patients? I'll get to you when I can."

Information for Lakeland Hospital:

All patients have the right to freedom of choice of providers. Discharged planners/case managers have legal and ethical obligations to honor this right.

All patients have a common law right based upon court decisions to control the care provided to them, including who renders it. Thus, when patients, regardless of payer source or type of care, voluntarily express preferences for providers, their choices must be honored.

Federal statutes of the Medicare and Medicaid programs guarantee Medicare beneficaries and Medicaid recipients the right to freedom of choice of providers. When Medicare and Medicaid patients voluntarily express a preference for a home health agency, these choice must be honored. [Lakeland does not honor these choices.]

The balanced budget act of 1997 requires hospitals to develop a list of home health agencies and meet the following criteria: 1-Are Medicare certified,
2- Provide service in geographic areas where patients reside, and ask to be on the list.

Courageous Benton Harbor residents make names public

If you know the history of Berrien County, you know why it takes courage

---The nurses in the ER (not in the entire hospital - our mistake) were all white in the stories told by those who attended the NAACP meeting called by Rev. Pinkney---



Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan has been commonly referred to as "Killer Hospital" by the residents of Benton Harbor. This nickname has prevailed for about eight years.

Here are four more experiences shared at the NAACP meeting last Saturday. Names have been added to stories in the post below this.

1. Mr. Sims, who at this moment is fighting for his life, was a patient at Lakeland, and was misdiagnosed and given the wrong medication. He's now in the hospital in Ann Arbor.

2. Mr. Abdullah: After a simple, non-life threatening operation, he was given a blood thinner by a nurse which caused a blood clot. Abdullah is now unable to walk.

3. Mr. Swife (pronounced Swif) had pain in his arm. A spinal treatment was administered which included a long session of poking up and down his spine. Swife was unable to walk for 4 weeks. A white nurse was everything but friendly towards him.

4. Sally Smith reported for her husband Bradley: Mr. Smith was in ICU - his infection resolved, dyspnea (difficult breathing) unexplained, and surgical procedure to repair his heart valve pending - when he stopped breathing in early morning. He was put on a ventilator and his wife was called. She was treated rudely by a nurse who asked, "What do you want the hospital to do? Pull the plug?"

Prosecutor, judge, public defender used story invented by young white man to remove Loren Robinson from Benton Harbor forever

Berrien County "Trial" this week turns out as expected:
Benton Harbor man Loren Robinson, 26, convicted on four charges - Likely to get life in prison

Josh Karamalegos, white, partied and did drugs with several BH young African-American men and concocted a story so his father would pay for the drugs. Prosecutor Jennifer Smith, judge Dennis Wiley, and public defender Jim Miller used this made-up story, along with an all-white jury, to convict Loren Robinson. Josh K., who was found in possession of a large quantity of crack-cocaine, is free.

Adding to the kangaroo nature of the court, prosecutor Smith called a 5 minute sidebar to discuss her accusation that court watcher, Rev. Edward Pinkney, snorted.

ANOTHER LIFE DESTROYED BY BERRIEN COUNTY DEATH COURT

The report on this blog, Oct. 29, 2010:

...Loren Robinson...about to get a life sentence along with three friends. Det. Smigielski wants to save a young white man (name unknown at present) who's father is wealthy. The story starts with this white man coming to BH from Niles, Michigan for the pupose of doing drugs. He smoked over two thousand dollars worth, but didn't have money to pay the four BH men he was partying with.

He had a plan to fake a kidnapping with the threat of murder so his father would pay off his drug debt. After his father brought the money, father and son fought and police were called. They searched the man and found a large amount of crack cocaine.

Smigielski liked the story concocted by the young man from Niles and told him to tell it in court. So, four more Black men will be removed from Benton Harbor (for the purpose of redevelopment of the land) to the brutal confines of Michigan prisons.