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Opponents Of State Takeover In Detroit May Let Their Feet Do The Walking And Talking

By Vickie Thomas

Protesters gathered at Cadillac Place again on Monday where the state financial review team was scheduled to meet as its deadline approaches next Monday to make a recommendation to Governor Rick Snyder on a way forward for Detroit which is set to run out of cash in a matter of weeks.

Chanting phases like, "No state occupation" and "Let Detroit run Detroit," opponents of the governor's proposed consent agreement told me they are standing against any plan to usurp the voting rights of Detroit residents by the state.

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Organizer Rev. David Bullock says they are willing to go as far as walking from Detroit to the state capitol to get their message across.  So, how would that work?

"It would work the same way it worked from Selma to Montgomery.  You put one foot in front of the other and you leave Detroit and walk to Lansing," said Bullock.  "Grand River is a great way to get there and if we have to walk to get there to dramatize the need for urban policy and if we have to walk to dramatize the need not to take democracy but to strengthen it…then we will stride toward freedom and empowerment and equality."

Bullock estimates it would take several days with stops at churches along the way to make it to Lansing which is about 93 mile from Detroit.  He said, "We'll try to do anywhere from 15 to 20 miles a day and again bring light and attention to the need for innovative public policy to solve these issues."   Issues like crime.  "Sixty three murders in three months in Detroit.  Something is going on," he said.

Bullock and a coalition of union, religious and community leaders kicked off a "12 days of action" campaign Friday.  They'll take their small but vocal group of protestors to a meeting of the Detroit City Council Tuesday.

State Treasurer Andy Dillon is expected to appear before the council tomorrow.  He is also a member of the state review team looking into the city's finances.

MORE: Detroiters Take To Streets In '12 Days Of Action' (VIDEO)

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