Bridge, Ramps, Welfare Concerns In Southwest Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - Protesters gathered for a noon rally in Southwest Detroit to demonstrate against unopened I-75 ramps, Gov. Rick Synder's International Bridge Project and welfare cuts.

New Black Panther Party Second Vice President Gabriel Kenyatta said the governor is cutting funding to social service programs when there is a shortage of jobs.

"We don't need that bridge. We need bridges from us, to us. We need someone to help the people ... If they build a bridge, we're not gonna get these jobs," Kenyatta said.

Participants in Thursday's rally also demanded that M-DOT open the new ramps from I-75 to the Ambassador Bridge. Detroit political consultant Adolph Mongo helped organize the protest and he said it's been two years since those ramps were built and it's now become a safety issue.

"They won't open the ramps. M-DOT spent all this money to build these new ramps; they won't open it, people have gotten killed in car accidents, the trucks are driving through the community, and they just put an embargo on Detroit. They use us as collateral damage," says Mongo.

M-DOT would not comment on the protesters demand that the State open the new ramps, because of an on going lawsuit.