BANCO, who has been organizing for years against racism and injustice in Benton Harbor, Michigan, has issued the following call for a "mass demonstration" to protest community organizer Rev. Edward Pinkney's sentence in a recent court case. Many watching the case have argued that it is part of a system of injustice and racism in Benton Harbor. The call is reprinted below:

Mark your calendars for a Mass Demonstration in Benton Harbor on July 19, 2008

We will be coming together to demand an end to police brutality and court corruption in Berrien County and to support the oppressed immigrants and workers everywhere. We need every hand on board in the fight against fascism and corruption. Now is the time to fight for our constitution.

Rev. Edward Pinkney is under house arrest for FIVE years, wearing an electronic tether. His crime? Exposing the unchecked greed and racism of Michigan's Berrien County: law enforcement, courts, Whirlpool Corporation, media...

Many here in Berrien County have been suffering for years under a court system which is bought and paid for by unholy political alliances and corrupt influences. Here and in many other parts of the country a fair and impartial trial as promised to us by our laws and constitution is a pipe dream.

Though judges, prosecutors and police officers take oaths to protect our rights and sovereignty many officials of our legal system are instead bought, sealed, and delivered by special interest groups such as Whirlpool. It is time to expose this corruption and demand that our officials work for us and not for bribes. They are our employees. We the People must hold them accountable.

Judge Alfred Butzbaugh has been known in southwest Michigan as entirely corrupt. He has blatantly perjured himself and disenfranchised many innocent residents of Berrien County from their legal and constitutional right to a fair trial by a jury of their peers. Many families have been destroyed through his shameless machinations in the interests of the wealthy and privileged while he has trampled on the poor and the working class. He routinely selects white and middle-class juries to sit for cases involving people of color. This is in clear violation of his duty to provide an impartial jury of peers for defendants. Judge Butzbaugh turned a blind eye as prosecutor Gerald Vignasky bribed, threatened and coerced witnesses to skew the evidence against Reverend Pinkney during his so-called trial. This is the norm with Judge Butzbaugh and not the exception.

The only recourse now functioning are State Judicial Tenure Commissioner and the Attorney Grievance Commission. These have been exposed repeatedly as ineffectual and dishonest. Our very way of life is at risk because of the corrupt court system and Americans need to wake up to this. They need to face the fact that even our media is owned and operated for the benefit of the few. The Harold Palladium which is supposedly a St. Joseph/Benton Harbor paper is owned by the Paxton Media Group, well known for its promotion of racism. Please write or call them and demand fair coverage for the issues now plaguing Benton Harbor. (info below)

If we want to change the system then we must confront our oppressors. Join us in exercising our patriotic freedom to peaceably assemble. Demand that our courts be cleaned up now and that our taxes stop going into the pockets of liars and crooks. Someday it could be you standing in front of such a judge and such a jury---a court fixed from the start to lie, defame and defraud us of our rights.

Together we can overcome. Together we can make a difference. It's our money and our courts. Stand with us on July 19 in Benton Harbor.

A positive step would be Elected Police Oversight Boards with subpoena power in all Michigan cities. Information is on the web, one place being the Albuquerque, NM site:
http://www.cabq.gov/council/abqrpt9.html
http://www.cabq.gov/council/apdrpt.html

Gov. Granholm has the ability to pardon Pinkney or commute his sentence. All individuals and organizations are urged to immediately sign up, write letters, etc., in favor of clemency. We already have hundreds and hundreds of letters that we obtained for sentencing. We need updated letters. Benton Harbor and Pinkney need many letters (5000 would be fantastic) sent to:

ATTORNEY
Hugh Davis Constitutional litigation
450 West Fort St.
Detroit, MI 48226

Governor Granholm
P. O. BOX 30013
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909
517-335-6790

Legal Fee Donations (non-profit so it's tax-deductible):
BANCO
1940 Union St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Herald Palladium Newspaper (letters to the editor)
P.O. Box 128
St. Joseph, Michigan 49085
800-356-4262

Whirlpool Corp. (World Headquarters and N. America Region)
2000 N. M-63
Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022-2692
269-923-5000

Support Rev. Pinkney and Sign Petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/624471377

Boycott Whirlpool and it's subsidiaries: Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Gladiator, GarageWorks, Inglis, Estate, Roper, Magic Chef, Acros, Supermatic. ABROAD - Bauknecht, Brastemp, Consul, Eslabon de Lujo.

Buy NON-Whirlpool brands! - Frigidaire, General Electric, LG, Samsung, Viking, Subzero, Dacor, some Kenmore, Electrolux, etc.

bhbanco.blogspot.com (feel free to post comments)