Rev. Edward Pinkney, President of the Benton Harbor Twin Cities NAACP (center in cap) with his supporters after initial court hearing on lawsuit he has filed against Michigan NAACP attempt to oust him, April 11, 2012. The court ruled that the parties should work the matter out between them, and canceled a special election the state NAACP had planned for April 16.
From Black Autonomy Network of Community Organizations (BANCO), Benton Harbor, Michigan
August 15, 2012
Rev. Edward Pinkney, president of the Benton Harbor Twin Cities NAACP, will burn his NAACP membership card along with eight different NAACP branches from around the country on Sunday at 5:30pm on the Pinkney to Pinkney show, blogtalkeradio.com!
Rev. Pinkney is asking every member of the NAACP to burn their NAACP membership cards. If a majority of members participated, it would send a clear message that we no longer tolerate the organization being run by corporations and people who comply with them.
Spread the word ! We need one thousand calls…………..call Gil Ford at 410-404-1408 at the NAACP National Headquarters.
- Rev. James Atterberry receiving award in 2007 from Lake Michigan College Officials. He headed a task force appointed by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm in the wake of the 2004 Benton Harbor rebellion against police brutality. Its promises of jobs and better economic conditions for the residents of Benton Harbor were never carried out.
A corporate-looking email is circulating. It states that the newly created Benton Harbor “Leadership Caucus” endorses a state NAACP organized election to oust Rev. Pinkney. People who made calls to Rev. James Atterberry of this “group” heard from him that Pinkney is too much of a “trouble maker.”
They want a new Twin Cities NAACP president. (Or, at least their overlord, Whirlpool, does.) James Atterberry is a black man who would be elected to handle the affairs of Whirlpool.
This is Rev. Pinkney’s response:
- Rev. Pinkney at May 26, 2012 rally against the Whirlpool-sponsored Senior PGA held on a luxury golf course which took over public park and beach land.
None of the current membership will be attending the unsanctioned election. The national office provided us the list of memberships paid by check from Whirlpool’s Marcus Robinson. It includes the Benton Harbor School Superintendent Leonard Seawood, Rev. Kenneth Gavin, Rev. Melvin Burton, Ms. Alloyd Blackmon, Rev. Nat Wells, Rev. James Atterberry, Mr. Corey Bell, and Mr. Jerry Price. These are the people who support Whirlpool and not the community.
Attorneys representing Rev. Edward Pinkney in lawsuit against state NAACP were (l to r) Buck Davis and Elliott Hall.
The election is in direct violation of the Wayne County Circuit Court order. Only the $100,000 law suit was thrown out because the national office did not have time to respond to activities of state pres. Yvonne White of Detroit and VP James Gill of Lansing.
It’s alleged that they must have this election in August to ensure that Whirlpool is given an NAACP business-of-the-year award.
The voices of the PEOPLE of Benton Harbor need to be heard. Unfortunately, the oppression has lasted for so many years, and the injustices are so profound, that the voices have been silenced.
This has been the Whirlpool plan all along. Eliminate as many jobs as possible, convict and imprison as many people possible, take away as many services as possible, and people are either driven away, or stay — in silence. Then, the land grab is easy. Instead of fighting the oppression (not too strong a word), the people who signed onto this “Call for new leadership” are playing a part in it.
God help the “Leadership Caucus” as we return to court with the membership list, the email from Whirlpool, and letters of compliance from President Jealous.
Contact: Rev. Edward Pinkney, 269-925-0001
President Benton Harbor Twin Cities NAACP
Blogtalkradio.com “Pinkney to Pinkney” Every Sunday 5pm
