We’ll Use Civil Disobedience if Needed to Oppose Detroit Emergency Manager, Coalition Says

The Rev. Jesse Jackson joined a coalition of pastors, civil-rights leaders and elected officials today in Detroit to pledge strong opposition–including civil disobedience, if necessary–against the state’s new emergency manager law.

Jackson and others likened emergency managers to dictators who wipe out the democratic process with unilateral authority to gut union contracts, sell cherished assets and slash essential services.

“We are prepared to go from education, mobilization, litigation, legislation, demonstration and civil disobedience,” Jackson said during a press conference at Bethany Baptist Church on the city’s west side. “We want a positive commitment to restoring democracy and economic justice for all citizens.”

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The coalition acknowledged the city was in a crisis but didn’t offer financial solutions.

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“We are prepared to utilize all of the measures afforded to us citizens to protect democracy,” said David Bullock, president of the Michigan Chapter of the Rainbow Coalition, a civil-rights group led by Jackson. “We aren’t going to take it any longer. We marched, fought and died for our right to vote. Enough is enough. We will not allow democracy to be dismantled.”

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