Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
>> Green Party of Michigan <<
>>> ---------------- <<<
>>> News Release <<<
>>> ---------------- <<<
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
---------------------
June 8, 2003
For More Information Contact:
----------------------------
Marc Reichardt -- Party Chair, GPMI
phone: 734-668-9628
e-mail: chair@migreens.org
Matthew Abel -- GPMI Bar Association
e-mail: attorneyabel@comcast.net
>>> Green Party Blasts Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office, <<<
>>> Demands Bogus Charges Against FAIR's Bill Riney Be Dropped <<<
>>> ========================================================== <<<
> Community, Environmental Activist Proclaims Innocence; <
> New GPMI Attorneys' Group to Track Case, Report to Party <
The Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) condemned the Washtenaw County
Prosecutor's office for filing politically motivated charges against
Ypsilanti Township environmental activist and recall leader Bill Riney,
and called on prosecutor Brian L. Mackie to drop the charges.
An attorneys' group inside GPMI, established to keep Michigan
Greens well-informed about legal issues that arise, will be tracking
the progress of Riney's case and keeping the party informed.
Riney spearheads an effort called Families Against Incinerator
Risk (FAIR), which has worked to remove three officials who supported
the building of an incinerator in the township -- a proposal opposed
by the public. FAIR is asking that higher authorities investigate
potential corruption of Ypsilanti Township officials, as well as
apparent misconduct by state police.
Despite the fact that Ypsilanti Township already has some of
the worst air quality and highest levels of asthma in the state of
Michigan, and regardless of vociferous objections from the people,
the three -- treasurer Larry Doe, clerk Brenda Stumbo, and supervisor
Karen Lovejoy Roe -- voted for the new incinerator . . . which would
be built by a company owned by Roe's brother-in-law.
Riney and FAIR circulated recall petitions against the three, and
gathered over 15,000 signatures from township residents last spring.
However, Washtenaw County Clerk Peggy Haines rejected the FAIR
petitions, claiming there were a number of incorrect signatures.
FAIR filed a lawsuit against Haines and the Washtenaw County Election
Scheduling Committee to recognize the petition signatures, but county
Circuit Court Judge Timothy Connors refused to reinstate the recall.
On top of that victory for backers of the incinerator, Mackie's
office has now filed charges against Riney -- four misdemeanor counts
accusing him of certifying and submitting recall petitions, knowing
that four of the names signed were false.
The charges are not the first time area officials have abused
their authority and persecuted Riney and FAIR:
* On March 2, 2002, treasurer Doe followed Riney in the area of
Pageant and Laurel Streets while he was going door to door
gathering signatures. That same day, the four suspect names
were placed on the petition.
* On April 30, 2002, Doe's daughter signed a false name on
three petitions, while being directed in this action by
Ypsilanti Township officials at the township hall. This
information was reported to the Michigan State Police --
who allegedly laughed.
* Members of FAIR have been spit on twice by supervisor Roe,
and told by clerk Stumbo: "Watch your backs. We're going
to get you." Police reports were filed after all of these
incidents, but no action has been taken to date.
* When Riney attempted to report the actions of the township
officials to the FBI at the Federal Building in Ann Arbor,
he was detained by the Michigan State Police. During Riney's
detention, his 3-year old son was apparently physically
harassed.
Riney maintains his innocence: "I did not do this. I would never
sign a fake name on a petition, or turn in names I knew were wrong."
/----------------------------------------------------\
Riney maintains his innocence, denying that he
forged any names or knowingly turned in any falsified
signatures: "I did not do this. I would never sign
a fake name on a petition."
\----------------------------------------------------/
"We are looking forward to going to court and finding out who
signed these names and why they signed them," he adds.
Riney's arraignment on the charges took place Wednesday in
District Court. His pre-trial is scheduled for July 15.
GPMI chair Marc Reichardt commented, "Anybody who knows Bill Riney
knows he's innocent. And anyone who knows the history of harassment
FAIR has had to endure knows the charges are unjust and unjustified."
A new group of attorneys who are Greens -- calling themselves the
"Green Party of Michigan Bar Association" (GPMIBA) -- is monitoring
Riney's case. Matthew Abel, former GPMI candidate for the U.S. Senate
and co-founder of GPMIBA, says the purpose of the working group is to
provide information and advice on legal issues to meet the needs of
party activists and allies.
For background information on FAIR's struggle against the
incinerator, see: Overview: Why a Recall?
# # #
Green Party of Michigan * 548 S. Main Street *
* Ann Arbor, MI 48104 * 734-663-3555
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The Green Party of Michigan was formed in 1987 to address environmental
issues in Michigan politics. There are Greens organized in all 50 states
and the District of Columbia. Each state Green Party sets its own goals
and creates its own structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom * Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice * Nonviolence
Community Economics * Decentralization
Feminism * Respect for Diversity
Personal and Global * Future Focus/
Responsibility Sustainability
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Other Contacts:
Green Party of Michigan
548 S Main St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-3555
info@migreens.org
posted to web 9 June 2003