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March 29, 2013

Lawsuit, Protests Challenge Michigan Emergency Manager Law 
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Dozens of protesters marched on government buildings in Detroit on
Thursday to oppose the appointment of emergency managers across the
state. The rally came one day after a coalition of civil rights and
religious groups filed a lawsuit challenging emergency managers in
Detroit and five other Michigan cities. The managers are granted broad
powers, including overruling elected officials, in a bid to turn around
struggling finances. The new lawsuit accuses Michigan's controversial
emergency manager law of imposing "a new form of government" in the
state. The emergency manager law has disproportionately effected African
Americans, with over half of African Americans in Michigan now living
under unelected leadership. Speaking at the federal courthouse in
Detroit, the Reverend Al Sharpton called the Michigan issue a national
struggle.

Rev. Al Sharpton: "This is a local issue, but a national struggle. What
Governor Snyder has done is nullify the voters of this city, interposed
his own will, something that Dr. Martin Luther King spoke against 50
years ago this year."

Detroit's new emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, began his tenure this week

 

.