Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad says Americans should not be afraid of protests because protests spawned our nation. Muhammad spoke to St. Joseph Rotarians Monday, saying he was not surprised recent Benton Harbor protests have been peaceful. He said African Americans are not seeking “revenge” from white America. Instead, he said, black Americans simply are seeking “Equality, justice and freedom” following recent acts of police violence in several cities. Muhammad praised Benton Harbor police for much-improved relations with the community. He said the situation is in stark contrast to 2003, when an arrest led to several days of disturbances that gained national attention. He singled out Benton Harbor Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis for strong leadership in the community policing effort.
