Reverand Released From House Arrest Continues Activism

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (FinalCall.com) - It started with a simple question, “Why are so many Black men in our community being sent to prison for such small crimes?” When Rev. Edward Pinkney, founder and president of a local activist group the Black Autonomy Community Organization (BANCO) pursued the question, he ended up paying a price, accused of threatening a judge because he cited a scripture, he was placed under house arrest, unable to leave his home. Recently released from prison himself on a $10,000 bond, having won an appeal for accusations of threatening a judge and released from legal tether, Rev. Pinkney has mounted another platform to continue his fight for justice. He is the new president of the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph NAACP. “I couldn't believe how they mistreated us the way they did,” Rev. Pinkney said, whose advocacy started after visiting county court house to witness how cases were handled. The Berrien County Court House is located in St. Joseph, Mich., which is known as a twin city with Benton Harbor because of its close proximity. He started picketing outside the court house when he discovered many were afraid to challenge those who lived “across the bridge.”

[oh dear]

so now threatening judges is only a "small crime" as well?

oh dear.

but then , he's a $5 reverend

[Stag R Lee]

I'm reminded of the South prior to WWII. Black men were arrested on phony charges and appeared before a magistrate. The rigged charges carried a fine; a fine that the local authorities made certain was beyond the means of the victim. Only on rare occasions was the victim able to pay; therefore, he was forced to work off the fine; and, during his interment the victim faced oppressive work conditions, frequent beatings (esp. if the victim didn't meet a quota) and, in many cases, death. Behind the scenes it was not unusual to find owners of large mining conglomerates, or operators of forestry concerns, or a local plantation owner. Invariably, wealthy individuals prospered enormously from forced labor. In Atlanta, for example, the bricks used to pave streets were made by Black men who had been convicted of minor offenses and forced into what turned out to be slave labor. Thousands, possibly tens of thousands men died in such camps; their remains frequently thrown into a lime pit: families were rarely notified.
...
Yes,IMO, it is a reasonable question to ask: Why are men being convicted for little or no reason, then sentenced to lengthy prison terms?
...
I have not seen the Bible verse which was interpreted as a threat on a judge's life. I have, on the other hand, read and seen egregious miscarriage of justice on the part of authorities. Sorry, i believe the minister and applaud Minister Farrakhan's efforts on the preacher's behalf.

[fnord]

Just another kneegrow criminal who's falsely being held out as a hero.

[39ehonor]

just another uppity black creating trouble

[Trufax]

He threatened a judge but you make it sound like he didn't do anything by "citing a scripture." Pathetic! Even a child can see through your propaganda.

[Real Talk]

Those were some BS charges.. all they while you have these stupid idiots bringing assault weapons President Obama's speaking engagements with not even a warning to the perps!

Why wasn't that red-neck preacher in Arizona sent to jail for calling for President Obama's death?

Hypocrites!

[Harrisson]

Hope that preacher chokes on a chicken bone. I got a picture of his grandfather hanging in my attic ;)

[Czar of Logic]

The Rev says that the blacks are being sent to jail for small crimes but I would be interested to know, what are those small crimes?

Furthermore, what is the rap sheet on these individuals that are being sent to jail for small crimes?

This is just typical liberal media reporting. If you are going to write a story make damn sure you do your research and give both sides of the story!

[Stag R Lee]

Czar of Logic wrote:

The Rev says that the blacks are being sent to jail for small crimes but I would be interested to know, what are those small crimes?
Furthermore, what is the rap sheet on these individuals that are being sent to jail for small crimes?
This is just typical liberal media reporting. If you are going to write a story make damn sure you do your research and give both sides of the story!

'
Above is a post from an individual who asks for knowledgeable reporting, but who--at the same time--displays an enormous ignorance of current events. in the first place, each case the minister is referring to may involve a different infraction; therefore, the term "minor is an appropriate characterization of the crimes in question. The hard facts are: it is everywhere clear that many if not most crimes are drug related. The following chart indicates that most arrest for drug related crimes are for minor marijuana violations.(See chart below ) Therefore, we already know--in general terms--what a minor crime is and what the associated risks for being arrested for a minor fraction are. There is no reason to believe the African American population, in this regard, is significantly different from the population at-large. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that Blacks are targeted for minor arrests far more than the general population.
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/34
Regarding "rap sheets." We all know how authorities offer plea bargains. In that process, police frequently force the accused to confess to crimes he could not have committed in exchange for leniency. Clearing, in this manner, is an age old practice and poor defendants who have virtually no meaningful resources have been victimized in this way for over a hundred years.
...and, of course, the idea of a "liberal" media is ludicrous: totally!

[Stag R Lee]

More on Rev. Pinkney:
Checked out his conviction and revocation of parole. An appellate court upheld his conviction but struck down the revocation.
http://bhbanco.blogspot.com/search/label/Quot...
Apparently, the people who know--as distinguished from the rather ignorant tripe posted by trolls on TOPIX African American Forum-- decided to uphold the First Amendment.

[Czar of Logic]

Stag R Lee wrote:

<quoted text>
'
Above is a post from an individual who asks for knowledgeable reporting, but who--at the same time--displays an enormous ignorance of current events. in the first place, each case the minister is referring to may involve a different infraction; therefore, the term "minor is an appropriate characterization of the crimes in question. The hard facts are: it is everywhere clear that many if not most crimes are drug related. The following chart indicates that most arrest for drug related crimes are for minor marijuana violations.(See chart below ) Therefore, we already know--in general terms--what a minor crime is and what the associated risks for being arrested for a minor fraction are. There is no reason to believe the African American population, in this regard, is significantly different from the population at-large. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that Blacks are targeted for minor arrests far more than the general population.
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/34
Regarding "rap sheets." We all know how authorities offer plea bargains. In that process, police frequently force the accused to confess to crimes he could not have committed in exchange for leniency. Clearing, in this manner, is an age old practice and poor defendants who have virtually no meaningful resources have been victimized in this way for over a hundred years.
...and, of course, the idea of a "liberal" media is ludicrous: totally!

Do you facts that all of these cases are drug related? Do you have facts that these individuals don't have priors? I asked questions and you give me nothing but nationwide statistics. Every area is different and I said nothing about the accused being guilty or not, however, I am saying if certain individuals are being arrested for crimes time after time then yes they need to go to jail.

Furthermore, I would have to question your sanity on your statement of the media not being liberal. If you are going to throw out statistics then you might want to check the stats on which way the media leans.

[Stag R Lee]

Czar of Logic wrote:

<quoted text>
Do you facts that all of these cases are drug related? Do you have facts that these individuals don't have priors? I asked questions and you give me nothing but nationwide statistics. Every area is different and I said nothing about the accused being guilty or not, however, I am saying if certain individuals are being arrested for crimes time after time then yes they need to go to jail.
Furthermore, I would have to question your sanity on your statement of the media not being liberal. If you are going to throw out statistics then you might want to check the stats on which way the media leans.

Your problem seems to be with reading. My posts--near the beginning--makes the point that each case considered as minor may be different; therefore, you are expected to infer the obvious; which is, it was probably impractical to list each and every alleged infraction. Given that reality, it is more than appropriate to point to national statistics; your disagreement to the contrary, notwithstanding.
With respect to past criminal offenses, logic has it hat a minor offense is a minor offense. Past convictions, no matter how heinous, must be weighed in terms of the specific nature of current allegations. For example, a rapist who J walks should be tried for J walking, not for committing a rape. Even juries are kept in the dark about an accused individual's past record, and that's because, in theory, a person at the dock is considered innocent until proven guilty; therefore, it's is totally illogical to poison his defense with past offenses. I also mentioned the practice of "clearing" in this regard.
Regarding your name calling and your suggestion that the media is "liberal."
In Europe, a "liberal" may be a Conservative. Only in this sense can the U.S. Establishment be considered "liberal." Maybe you should define exactly what you mean by the term, then--afterwards--resort to name calling.

[gibs me dat]

"small offenses" =

drug dealing
drive by killings
wife murders
carjacking
rape

[Stag R Lee]

gibs me dat wrote:

"small offenses" =
drug dealing
drive by killings
wife murders
carjacking
rape

In the UK. No where else,

[lando]

Harrisson wrote:

Hope that preacher chokes on a chicken bone. I got a picture of his grandfather hanging in my attic ;)

you are a a hole

[lando]

Thank God there is another brother standing up for our people. I was born and raised in Benton Harbor.
So I know first hand that there is two kinds of justice across the bridge. White and Black. What we need to do is make our vote count!!!!!!!!!!

[Harrisson]

He will take his place in H*** soon, trust me!

[Stag R Lee]

lando wrote:

Thank God there is another brother standing up for our people. I was born and raised in Benton Harbor.
So I know first hand that there is two kinds of justice across the bridge. White and Black. What we need to do is make our vote count!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I've heard about Benton Harbor. Isn't there a nearby town that symbolizes the race/class division in that locale?