Rev. Pinkney's Trial Oct. 27, 2014

From the desk of Rev. Edward Pinkney

Benton Harbor, MichiganFor Immediate Release
http://www.bhbanco.org/2014/10/why-im-charged-with-election-fraud.html

Why I'm charged with election fraud

Please attend my trial on Monday Oct. 27 at 8:30am in the Berrien County Courthouse, MI
(Trial time has been corrected above - 8:30, not 10am)

"With absolutely no evidence, I was charged with voter fraud and bound over for trial."

The USA proclaims itself the "land of freedom," but the reality is we live under the world's most corrupt legal system. It has rigged courts, bribed judges, phony trials, extortion by lawyers, and over two million prisoners. More prisoners than any other country, in real numbers and proportionately.

You can be sent to prison and even put to death with absolutely no evidence. The truth is hidden by America's corporate owned media, and by Berrien County media. They are afraid to tell the truth about Michigan's Emergency Manager system where rule is without the consent of the governed.

Benton Harbor now has four Emergency Managers. They are called a Transitional Team. Appointed by the governor, they are direct representatives of the corporate giant, Whirlpool, that runs Benton Harbor. This team can overrule decisions made by the democratically elected city council. They can sell off public assets to private interests. The team includes two former Whirlpool employees, one county treasurer, and a member of the State Treasury Department. This is what fascism in Michigan looks like-the merger of government with private corporations.

Within this dictatorial political environment, the Benton Harbor community exercised their democratic right to recall the Whirlpool-allied mayor. With absolutely no evidence, I was charged with voter fraud and bound over for trial.

This attack was intended to stop the community's recall election from going forward. In a hearing to determine if there was evidence to take me to trial, Mark Goff, a forensic document examiner with the Michigan State Police testified that changes to the election petitions were made with different ink, but he could not determine who made the changes, when they were made, or whether the person who signed the petition changed it.

His testimony provided no evidence against me, however Judge Sterling Schrock, Judge Charlie LaSata and Prosecutor Mike Sepic all stated that you do not need evidence to go to trial in Michigan. The government is counting on an all-white jury, that may be motivated by something other than the truth, to convict me.

Soon after, in a momentary victory for the people, Judge John DeWane ruled that the contested mayoral recall election should be placed on the November ballot -- upon the first Amendment's political core Freedom of Speech. The issue boiled down to admitting 21 duplicate signatures that had been invalidated based upon faulty practice by the Berrien County Clerk's Office.

Attorney John LaPietra stated that the Berrien County clerk, armed with $20,000.00 in funding from the County Board, appealed (that ruling) with support from two major law firms and the Attorney Generals office, representing the Secretary of State and the Board of Elections.

The court of Appeals reversed Judge John DeWane's favorable ruling, and it was essentially upheld by the state's Supreme Court. This scenario once again shows the unity
of government and corporations.

Democracy has been stolen from the people. Water rights have been stolen. Poverty is growing. We the people have nothing in common with the billionaire's, their corporations, and their government. We must stand together.

Nobody in the world has ever gotten anything by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them. We must stand together and fight back.

Rev. Edward Pinkney
http://www.bhbanco.org/
Pinkney to Pinkney show

blogtalkradio.com
Every Sunday 5pm ET
Burn Baby Burn
Burn all NAACP Membership Cards

Former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney wrote: Why is the Congressional Black Caucus silent on the persecution of Benton Harbor leader, +Rev Edward Pinkney, who is being maliciously prosecuted AGAIN? What has happened up there in DC to eliminate all heart, backbone, and guts? What's left without that???

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SEND YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FREE PUBLICATION

Send your community service announcements to the MaryLovesJustice@gmail.com
email address in order to be considered for publication in this "Human Rights Events by MaryLovesJustice" blog. Political and Christian announcements are usually welcome. If you do not receive a confirmation within 48 hours, please re-send the announcement, and call (571) 335-1741 for Mary Neal or 678.531.0262.

Rev. Pinkney Goes to Trial

Rev. Edward Pinkney was falsely accused of voter fraud in connection with a recall petition for Benton Harbor, Michigan's mayor. At his hearing on May 30, the prosecutor reportedly admitted that he had no evidence against Rev. Pinkney, but he was bound over to court, anyway. Trial was originally set for June, but the prosecutor asked for a delay until September, and the court granted that request. We are now preparing for court to fight these false charges that are intended to intimidate and persecute a leader who fights for freedom and justice for all people without regard to race, socioeconomic status, or where they live. Now you are invited to share in the battle to keep Rev. Pinkney free to continue his work.

10 REASONS TO DONATE $10 TO BANCO'S LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

We still need 100 good people to donate $10 each to BANCO's Legal Defense Fund. Rev. Edward Pinkney, the director of BANCO, will go on trial in September for voter fraud in connection with a petition to recall the mayor of Benton Harbor. Voters who signed the recall petition did so because they believe the new mayor works for corporate interests against the will of the people. Rev. Pinkney and BANCO truly need local, national, and international support.

You can help rectify the injustices in Benton Harbor, particularly against BANCO leader Rev. Pinkney, as the people fight alongside local and statewide residents to promote economic and social justice in Michigan. Please make a contribution to the BANCO Legal Defense Fund so we can "Free Rev. Pinkney!"

Use the "Make a Donation" button on the BANCO home page PayPal at http://www.bhbanco.org, or mail your check or money order to:  BANCO, 1940 Union St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Your $10 will help in these ten ways:

1) Support the right of Benton Harbor citizens to protect themselves against a corrupt political and judicial system;

2) Free Rev. Pinkney, who was indicted on false charges. Prevent him from becoming a political prisoner again;

3) Defend free speech and freedom of press. Rev. Pinkney's prosecution is partly because he is one of the most influential men in the nation and takes a stance against tyranny and aggression. He was America's first citizen who was restricted by court order from using the Internet. Ms. Pinkney, who was not facing any criminal charges whatsoever, was not allowed to use the Internet in the couple's home. These restrictions were lifted on May 30 after public outcry;

4) Fund the appeal to have Rev. Pinkney's erroneous indictment heard before a higher court;

5) Defend the right of Benton Harbor residents to speak out against injustice without intimidation and reprisals;

6) Stop the disenfranchisement of Benton Harbor voters (a valid recall election must not be overturned);

7) Support BANCO's fight against brutality and harassment by police; support the preservation of public lands;

8) Improve living conditions in a community with 90% unemployment and under-employment (material aid is needed);

9) Challenge economic and racial apartheid in the U.S. today;

10) Help spread the word as we join others who call for justice in Benton Harbor and throughout the world. Together we can make a difference!

Rev. Pinkney is persecuted because he leads a protest against the corporate takeover of public lands in Benton Harbor area. See an excerpt from BANCO.org:

Whirlpool Vice President Jeff Noel told U. of Mich. business school students and faculty that if you want poor peoples' land, and have justice groups "on your back," simply bring in Habitat for Humanity to build a few houses and donate some appliances. Part of the land he and his corporate partners wanted was deeded in perpetuity to the citizens of Benton Harbor in 1917 by John Klock, a land owner who's infant daughter died. In a town ceremony, Klock spoke of people who owned no land but would always have this park, and named it after his infant daughter: Jean Klock Park. The largest appliance manufacturer in the world, which has outsourced most of it's jobs leaving Benton Harbor in dire poverty, has enough lawyers to get around the minor inconvenience of a deed.

In a video no longer accessible on the web, former Whirlpool CEO Dave Whitwam stated that this is the last and largest piece (530 acres) of prime real estate along the Lake Michigan shoreline. (Parkland is real estate?) Whirlpool is busy inventing terminology to justify their takeover. An example: They call this the first ever "Master Planned Community." It will have a town center with retail shops and restaurants. (Are they replacing Benton Harbor with a new town?) Deeded parkland for the people is becoming a posh enclave for the wealthy.

A stretch of the most pristine, natural beach front is to be no more. Ever. One protester said that people who grew up in this area and love the land and lake feel like an arm is being cut off.

Judges keep ruling in favor of Whirlpool in cases brought by preservationists.

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Benton Harbor is approximately 95 percent African American, and its "twin" city St. Joseph is approximately 95 percent Caucasian. There is no other place where apartheid in America is as evident as it is in the Benton Harbor, Michigan area. Please help Rev. Pinkney and BANCO.org fight against police brutality and corporate government corruption. As Rev. Pinkney says, "The battle is not black against white; it is elitists against everybody else. We must unite to fight this battle together." It's usual and ordinary to use the criminal justice system to terrorize and incarcerate the people's leaders. Stand with BANCO.org and say:

"Not this time, not this man, not on our watch."

PETITION: Support the Change.org petition to help Rev. Pinkney and citizens of Benton Harbor:
http://www.change.org/petitions/berrien-county-michael-sepic-stop-the-corruption-we-demand-justice-in-benton-harbor-michigan-and-the-resignation-of-berrien-county-michigan-prosecutor-michael-sepic-free-rev-pinkney-stop-the-corruption

Feel free to call Rev. Pinkney at (269) 925-0001. Comment on air at Rev. Pinkney's Blogtalkradio show Sundays from 5pm - 7pm EDT at (347)994-3644. Web address http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rev-pinkney
Use the hashtag #SupportPinkney whenever you post in social media. Please give generously to the legal fund at http://www.bhbanco.org and share this call to action!

Part one repeated (because Rev. Pinkney is censored): Rev. Edward Pinkney was falsely accused of voter fraud in connection with a recall petition for Benton Harbor, Michigan's mayor. At his hearing on May 30, the prosecutor reportedly admitted that he had no evidence against Rev. Pinkney, but he was bound over to court, anyway. Trial was originally set for June, but the prosecutor asked for a delay until September, and the court granted that request. We are now preparing for court to fight these false charges that are intended to intimidate and persecute a leader who fights for freedom and justice for all people without regard to race, socioeconomic status, or where they live. Now you are invited to share in the battle to keep Rev. Pinkney free to continue his work.

10 REASONS TO DONATE $10 TO BANCO'S LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

We still need 100 good people to donate $10 each to BANCO's Legal Defense Fund. Rev. Edward Pinkney, the director of BANCO, will go on trial in September for voter fraud in connection with a petition to recall the mayor of Benton Harbor. Voters who signed the recall petition did so because they believe the new mayor works for corporate interests against the will of the people. Rev. Pinkney and BANCO truly need local, national, and international support.

You can help rectify the injustices in Benton Harbor, particularly against BANCO leader Rev. Pinkney, as the people fight alongside local and statewide residents to promote economic and social justice in Michigan. Please make a contribution to the BANCO Legal Defense Fund so we can "Free Rev. Pinkney!"

Use the "Make a Donation" button on the BANCO home page PayPal at http://www.bhbanco.org, or mail your check or money order to:  BANCO, 1940 Union St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022

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SEND YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FREE PUBLICATION

Send your community service announcements to the MaryLovesJustice@gmail.com email address in order to be considered for publication in this "Human Rights Events by MaryLovesJustice" blog. Political and Christian announcements are usually welcome. If you do not receive a confirmation within 48 hours, please re-send the announcement, and call Mary Neal at 678.531.0262 or my Google Voice (571) 335-1741 .