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Rallies are planned for the Professional Golfer's Association Senior Tour Event in Benton Harbor, Michigan, from May 23-27, in protest of Whirlpool Corporation, the Cornerstone Alliance, the Harbor Shores development, Gov. Rick Snyder, Emergency Manager Joseph Harris, State Rep. Al Pscholka, and Rep. Fred Upton. All are part of an effort to take property from the residents of Benton Harbor and sell it to the Harbor Shores development. Harbor Shores is a highly exclusive development where membership in the country club alone is $5,000 a year. The development is a joint project of Whirlpool and Cornerstone. Whirpool received massive sums of money from both the federal and state government in the form of subsidies and closed its plant in Benton Harbor, devastating the local economy. After the factory closing, the average annual salary in Benton Harbor hovers around $10,000.
A member of the Cornerstone Alliance is Rep. Al Pscholka, the same legislator that proposed the state's 'Emergency Manager' bill which was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder. Manager Joseph Harris stripped all power from local elected officials, fired his critics and put the local radio station on eBay. Now he has the power, it seems, to seize land from local citizens and sell it to Harbor Shores, one would assume under eminent domain. Rep. Fred Upton, who is a recipient of money from Whirlpool and represents the area, doesn't seem to have any problem with what is happening.
Local activists aren't taking the whole thing sitting down:
We are committed to escalating the Occupy Movement to support human rights in housing in addition to the push back against bailouts for fraudulent banks. They are stealing our homes and our lives.
Democracy is non-existent here in Benton Harbor. Joseph Harris, the Emergency Manager, must go. We have a dictator in Benton Harbor, Michigan!
The PGA will be played on a $750 million, 530 acre resort near Lakeshore with a Jack Nicklaus Signature designer golf course and with $500,000 condominiums. We cannot forget the three golf holes in the stolen land inside Jean Klock Park.
If your schedule permits your attendance is needed on May 26, 2012. Alternative action dates are May 23-25. Please let know if you can accept the invitation to Occupy The PGA in Benton Harbor.
We will meet at Benton Harbor City Hall, 200 Wall St. at 10:00am every day. Then we will March to the golf course! We will have speakers and food.
