Marine Tells NYPD to Stop Brutalizing Occupy Wall Street Protesters

Sgt. Shamar Thomas is a two tour Iraqi war veteran from a military family who was filmed on the streets of New York City chastising New York Police Department officers for attacking innocent, unarmed Occupy Wall Street protesters. See the amazing video for yourself.

Watch Sgt. Shamar Thomas speak with journalist Keith Olbermann about why he criticized NYPD officers for beating U.S. civilians who are exercising their right to protest against corporate greed and government corruption.

Occupy movement takes off in Michigan

Like hundreds of cities throughout the U.S. and across the globe, the Occupy movement has begun in Michigan! Thousands of people who are struggling to make ends meet, take care of their families and find ways to stay in school are coming together in their communities to say "enough is enough!"

We demand justice and accountability from corporations and our government for their abuses and threats to our lives. WE ARE THE 99% and we demand change!

Many of us are in poverty with no prospects for living wage jobs, health care or affordable housing. The government safety net that was created to protect people from the turmoil of capitalism is being annihilated by self-serving politicians and corporate greed. Many other families are on the edge of poverty -- just one measly paycheck away from homelessness, hunger and illness.

Michigan residents have begun occupations in several cities and more cities will start soon. Among the Occupy Michigan cities are:

• Occupy Detroit
• Occupy Lansing
• Occupy Ann Arbor
• Occupy Grand Rapids
• Occupy Flint (facebook)
• Occupy Kalamazoo (facebook)
• Occupy Saginaw (facebook)
• Occupy Traverse City (facebook)
• Occupy The UP (facebook)
• Bay City 

The Occupy Michigan website has information and links to each Occupy city, plus a list of occupier needs for anyone who'd like to contribute.  The occupations are more than just the people who camp out each night -- they are about all of us! The occupiers bring visibility to our concerns in Michigan about home foreclosures, joblessness, poverty, food insecurity, education, poor public transportation, unaffordable health care and other universal basic needs.

You can share your concerns at Occupy cities during the "General Assembly" meetings where everyone has a voice. Go to the Occupy city nearest you and make change happen!

Image from dmcd18 at Occupy Lansing tumbler

A People's Victory - Short Term!

OO-HA! Federal Judge Paul Borman moments ago issued a statement that stops Gov. Snyder's attempt to stop cash assistance to 40,000 welfare families!! He cites technical reasons for this decision, but we are so happy that these families will continue to receive cash assistance for now. Send letters and thank you messages to the Judge for his compassion.

More information coming soon...

Federal Judge Paul Borman

US Federal Court House

231 W. Lafayette Street,

Detroit, MI 48226

Phone #: (313) 234-5120

Benefits Shut Off for 41,000 Michigan Welfare Recipients

(repost from Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Fri, Sep 30, 2011)

On Saturday, Oct. 1, 41,000 Michigan welfare recipients will lose cash benefits in the amount of approximately $515 each. Gov. Rick Snyder capped maximum welfare payments at 48 months. Several Michigan recipients filed a class action lawsuit to overturn the four-year cap. 

Five years was the original cap on cash assistance for welfare. In some cases, extensions were available for those in need. The lawsuit says that the welfare cap violates the due process clause of the 14th amendment. They claim that the cutoff notices were vague and generic. The plaintiffs are asking a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the cap. 

Exemptions are available for those with disabilities that make them unable to work. Those over 65, caring for a disabled spouse or child, who don't qualify for social security or who receive low benefit payments may also get an extension. 

There is some concern among taxpayers about what qualifies a person as unable to work. Chronic alcoholism, drug addicts and obesity are three problematic disabilities. These don't qualify specifically as handicaps, but some of the resulting health conditions do qualify them. There is also concern about how welfare payments, especially food stamps, are spent. 

Welfare cash assistance cuts aren't the only economic issue plaguing Michigan. Cuts are happening everywhere. In August, 11.2 percent of Michiganders were unemployed. Let's look at Michigan's deteriorating economy, by the numbers.

• 2.5 million: People in Michigan who receive one or more form of welfare benefits.

• 220,000 thousand: People in Michigan who receive cash benefits. The four-year cap would reduce it to 180,000 people.

• 21,000-25,000: The number of welfare recipients in Detroit alone (Michigan's largest city) who had their cash benefits cut.

• 30,000: The number of children in Michigan who will lose welfare benefits. 

Read the rest of this article at Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben | Yahoo! Contributor Network. 

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about people, places, events and issues in "Pure Michigan."

Screen shot from Michigan League for Human Services.