BabyPhat21
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Michigan Gov. Urges Healing After Riots
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - Gov. Jennifer Granholm urged healing and reconciliation Thursday after surveying the damage from two nights of rioting and meeting with leaders in this city plagued by poverty and racial tensions.
"The state must wrap its arms around this community," Granholm said. "It should never have to take violence to have elected officials pay attention, but we are paying attention and we are moving forward."
Hundreds rioted in Benton Harbor on Monday and Tuesday nights after the death of Terrance Shurn, 28, whose speeding motorcycle crashed as police chased him into the city from neighboring Benton Township. Several fires were set, police and firefighters were attacked, about a dozen people were hurt and 10 were arrested.
Police said the rioting caused about $560,000 in property damage, most of it to 21 homes destroyed by fire. Seven other homes were damaged, as were eight police and fire vehicles and two private vehicles.
With hundreds of law enforcement officers on the streets, Benton Harbor was mostly calm Wednesday night and Thursday, although two fires were set overnight, including one that extensively damaged a home, authorities said.
Many residents said the death of Shurn, who was black, amplified tensions between Benton Harbor police, many of whom are white, and the predominantly black city, which suffers from poverty and joblessness.
Resident Brian McKinney, 29, said Thursday that he still sensed the frustration in the city of 12,000 people about 100 miles northeast of Chicago.
"I feel like the tension is still here," he said. After Shurn's funeral Monday "it might be a little bit more peaceful — but I can't really see it changing too much right now."
Granholm seemed shaken after leaving the meeting with community leaders, which was closed to reporters.
"It was a powerful meeting because people got up and told it like it is. But it's the beginning of a healing process. There are many, many, many very good people in Benton Harbor and Berrien County," the governor said.
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - Gov. Jennifer Granholm urged healing and reconciliation Thursday after surveying the damage from two nights of rioting and meeting with leaders in this city plagued by poverty and racial tensions.
"The state must wrap its arms around this community," Granholm said. "It should never have to take violence to have elected officials pay attention, but we are paying attention and we are moving forward."
Hundreds rioted in Benton Harbor on Monday and Tuesday nights after the death of Terrance Shurn, 28, whose speeding motorcycle crashed as police chased him into the city from neighboring Benton Township. Several fires were set, police and firefighters were attacked, about a dozen people were hurt and 10 were arrested.
Police said the rioting caused about $560,000 in property damage, most of it to 21 homes destroyed by fire. Seven other homes were damaged, as were eight police and fire vehicles and two private vehicles.
With hundreds of law enforcement officers on the streets, Benton Harbor was mostly calm Wednesday night and Thursday, although two fires were set overnight, including one that extensively damaged a home, authorities said.
Many residents said the death of Shurn, who was black, amplified tensions between Benton Harbor police, many of whom are white, and the predominantly black city, which suffers from poverty and joblessness.
Resident Brian McKinney, 29, said Thursday that he still sensed the frustration in the city of 12,000 people about 100 miles northeast of Chicago.
"I feel like the tension is still here," he said. After Shurn's funeral Monday "it might be a little bit more peaceful — but I can't really see it changing too much right now."
Granholm seemed shaken after leaving the meeting with community leaders, which was closed to reporters.
"It was a powerful meeting because people got up and told it like it is. But it's the beginning of a healing process. There are many, many, many very good people in Benton Harbor and Berrien County," the governor said.