The Voice Of The People Has Been Heard: Democracy Is Still Alive!!

DETROIT, Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Detroit Branch NAACP:

The words of Frederick Douglass have even greater meaning today:

"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress."

Today the people of Michigan can claim a significant victory in the quest for the ability to petition their government as it relates to how the people shall be governed. Will Michigan have a Dictator Law (so-called the Emergency Manager Law) eliminating all elected representatives from local communities based on their financial distress? Or shall Michigan stand on the Constitution guaranteeing the right of the people to have their own elected representation – regardless of financial or social condition?

Our nation was founded upon the principle that the people represent the highest level of authority when it comes to determining how they shall be governed. This battle in the state of Michigan over Public Act 4 is one which never should have been waged in the first place. It was imposed upon the people without their consent. It was never the intent of the framers of the Constitution and the Founding Fathers to usurp the power of the people based on the financial distress of a local community. 'Less we forget the 13 colonies were in financial distress when they were compelled to come together to forge a Declaration of Independence. They did not petition King George III of England for an emergency manager. Their petition ultimately would lead to the creation of the United States Constitution.  The 226,000 people from all over this state who signed petitions in good faith, trusting in their government and believing in the democratic process did so with the belief that their voices would be heard. Finally, after marching in the streets, protesting at the courts, pleading before justices at every level and Standing Up For Democracy – their voices have been heard and justice although delayed – shall not be denied.

Many thanks go out to the thousands upon thousands of Michiganders who signed the petition, the attorneys who led and advocated forcefully in this battle, the community activists who continued to stoke the fires of freedom, the ministers and labor leaders who prayed and paid for our day in court to be victorious. If anyone doubts that justice is a cause unworthy to be pursued, let them look to the state of Michigan. If anyone doubts that truth crushed to the earth shall rise again – let them look to Michigan. If anyone doubts that the voice of people who have their minds stayed on justice will not be heard – let them look to Michigan. We applaud the Michigan Supreme Court for its ruling that those who represent the noble effort to Stand Up For Democracy with the petition of the people did meet all of the requirements to qualify for the ballot under state election law. Now the people of Michigan will get the opportunity to vote on November 6th to repeal the Emergency Manager Law which is plainly undemocratic, un-American and unworthy of the people who have imposed it upon us. It is a great day for democracy.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made it very clear when he said, "The time is always right to do what is right." Surely today our time has come. Now, let us prepare for the real battle which, of course, will be fought on November 6th. People, get ready to…

TAKE YOUR SOLES TO THE POLLS AND VOTE!!!!

SOURCE Detroit Branch NAACP