Claire McClinton
Claire McClinton is a Flint resident and former auto worker, is available to speak about the Flint water crisis, the dismantling of democracy in Michigan and the fight for toxin-free and affordable water as a human right. “In Flint, people were poisoned with lead and other toxins in the water. This was the direct result of a dictatorial emergency manager switching the city’s water supply to the Flint River in 2014,” she explains. In addition to speaking about the water crisis in America, McClinton discusses the question of how today’s new technology could make a new society possible – a world where life could be better for all. McClinton’s social activism has included advocacy for the homeless and for welfare rights. She is a member of the Democracy Defense League Water Task Force. She was born and raised in Flint, attending Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. She is a retiree from General Motors and proudly served in various positions at the United Auto Workers Local 659.
Leader of the Flint Democracy Defense League.
National Welfare Rights Organization
Pinkney birthday
A spirited birthday celebration for Rev. Edward Pinkney, on October 27 2018 in Benton Harbor, MI, drew family, friends, and activists from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, California and even Denmark. Rev. Pinkney’s daughter Latoya Williams sang for the gathering, commenting that she “loved everything about the party.” Marvin Haywood thanked the reverend for his “support for the Benton Harbor community and concern for justice for those who have no voice.” Dorothy Pinkney said her husband’s “70th celebration was very successful with an amazing turn out.”
The highlight of the evening was actress and activist Jane Fonda. “You are a brave man Rev. Pinkney” said the actress who spoke about low wage women and the One Fair Wage proposal on the ballot in Michigan, and the need to get out the vote. “It’s unconscionable what they are doing to black voters across the country. They don’t want you to vote. We need to get people into office that don’t think that Whirlpool and Senior PGA is more important than the rights of people in Benton Harbor,” said Fonda.
Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, said the One Fair Wage is about “who is deserving to feed their children, have shelter, and live a life of dignity.” She honored the victims and survivors of the temple shootings in Pittsburg, adding that, “So many of us have to survive a government and vigilantes that see us as part of their sacrifice.”
Benton Harbor resident Emma Kinnard said, “It was an honor that Jane Fonda took the time out to come to a little town like Benton Harbor.” Claire McClinton, after wishing Rev. Pinkney a very happy birthday, said, “Flint is the face of abandonment and man made disaster foisted upon the people, compromising our health and lives, and you, Rev Pinkney, are the face of resistance to the dismantling of democracy in this state.”
“We must fight to keep legislators from choosing corporate interests over the interests of the workers,” said Rev. Pinkney. “We must confront the legislators, along with the corporations who stand behind them, and keep up the fight after the elections.”[1]
MDEQ protest
(L-R) Kim Redigan, Jay Cummings, Pastor Emeritus, Claire McClinton and Rev. Liz Theoharis.Valerie Jean.
The event that triggered the arrests in front of the MDEQ in Lansing, MI, that blocked the doors to the building.
“We blocked all the doors (and eventually the parking lot) of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) headquarters, plus surrounded the building with crime scene tape because of environmental concerns,” said Rev. Bill Wylie-Kellermann, one of some 30 people arrested. Concerns included the role of the MDEQ in the Flint water poisoning, oil spill threat of Enbridge’s Line 5, and permitting the expansion by US Ecology and Nestlés in the Great Lakes.
The action was part of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. “This contributed to the largest focused and coordinated campaign of civil disobedience in US history . . . the MDEQ needs to make public health the priority, not corporate profit,” said Wylie-Kellermann.
“Some of those arrested took a ‘diversion program’ offer. Others pled ‘no contest’ to a misdemeanor. Thirteen prepared for a trial;” Rabbi Alana Alpert; Carolyn Baker; Claire McClinton; Justin Sledge; Carlos Santacruz; Baxter Jones; Rev. Liz Theoharis; Rev. Deb Hansen; Rev. Ed Rowe; Rev. Bill Wylie-Kellermann; Richard Levey; Sylvia Orduno; and Leah Wiste.[2]
"Flint is still broken"
Cynthia M. Lindsey June 28 ·
With Claire McClinton, Laura Gillespie MacIntyre, Vicki Marx, Joelena Freeman and Claudia Stinson Perkins-Milton in Flint, Michigan.
Speakers for a New America
Circa 2015 Claire McClinton was part of Speakers for a New America, the speakers bureau for League of Revolutionaries for a New America.
Founding conference/Leadership
By Allen Harris CHICAGO– With tremendous enthusiasm, fighting spirit and unity, the League of Revolutionaries for a New America was established during a convention held in Chicago on April 29 and 1995.
Attending were 73 delegates and 67 observers, as well as representatives of 30 areas and the national office. They came from 22 states, the District of Columbia and the Lakota Nation.
The meeting was the second national convention of the organization founded in Chicago in April, 1993 and originally called the National Organizing Committee.
Ranging in age from 17 to 80, the participants were Native American, white, black, Latino, Asian and Arab. They were urban, suburban and rural. They were secular and Christian, Muslim, Jewish and people of other faiths.
On the Steering Committee were General Baker, Marian Kramer, Jitu Sadiki, Abdul Alkalimat, Tonny Algood, Ethel Long-Scott, Dottie Stevens, Beth Gonzalez, Jo Ann Capalbo, Nacho Gonzalez, Manuel Torres, Laura Garcia, Stephanie Shanks-Meile, Claire McClinton and Lenny Brody.
League comrades
Daymon J. Hartley January 5, 2014 · League of Revolutionaries for a New America leaders.
With Cathy Talbott, David Smokler, General Baker, Darryl Waistline Mitchell, Nelson Peery, Jerome Scott, Dorothy Pinkney, Marian Kramer, Claire McClinton and Sandra Reid. Plus Edward Pinkney.
League of Rolutionaries for a New America MLK luncheon, Detroit
With Claire McClinton. Valerie Jean January 12 2019·
With Apple Rose, Dorothy Pinkney, Edward Pinkney, Claire McClinton and Sandra Reid in Detroit, Michigan.
Michigan Poor People’s Campaign
Valerie Jean December 12, 2018 ·
They are both out of jail! #Michigan #PoorPeoplesCampaign — with Lucia Wylie-Eggert, Edwin Rowe, Claire McClinton, Denise Griebler, Lydia Wylie-Kellermann, Bill Wylie-Kellermann, Greg Olszta, Tommy Tackett, James Perkinson, Eric Krawczak, Apple Rose and Sarah Rosenthal.
Carolyn Baker June 6, 2018 ·
- PoorPeoplesCampaign — with Sylvia Orduno, Kim Redigan, Claire McClinton, Alana Alpert, Edwin Rowe, Maureen Taylor, Nayyirah Shariff, Carlos Santacruz and Denise Griebler.
Poor People’s Campaign
Valerie Jean December 13, 2018 ·
I am so grateful for the #PoorPeoplesCampaign It gives me so much hope for the future.
These are just a few of my fav moments from the first part of 2018.
The Poor People's Campaign:... See More — with Kim Redigan, Elise Bryant, Claire McClinton, Luci Murphy, Carolyn Baker, Erica Williams, Maureen Taylor, Marian Kramer, Tommy Tackett, Darryl E. Jordan, Charon Hribar, Nia Eubanks-Dixon, Jennifer Teed and Nicole Hill.
Welfare Rights Movement 50th Anniversary
Welfare Rights Movement 50th Anniversary June 25, 2016
When Bill Clinton signed the 1996 welfare reform it was genocide. The law said we no longer have a right to survive! In Flint, we are struggling to survive with the poisoning of our families: seizures, miscarriages, children diagnosed with lead poisoning --babies asking: Momma, does this mean I can't go to college? Does it mean we're going to die? We told Pres Obama: We want clean water now. If we don't get it, shut it down! We want not just water but "water rights" taken away by emergency mgrs. -- Claire McClinton, Flint Democracy Defense League — with Claire McClinton, Maureen Taylor and Mary Bricker-Jenkins.
"Shoulders of giants"
Valerie Jean January 17, 2016 near Detroit, MI ·
The long distance runners. As activists and organizers WE know WE stand on the shoulders of giants.
The wisdom, strength, and power in this picture stems from decades long struggles with the League of Revolutionary Black Workers and Michigan Welfare Rights. ... See More — with Richard Fahoome, Michael Berger, Roshaun Harris, David Smokler, Marian Kramer, Claire McClinton, Al Gladyck and Michigan Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO).
Genesee Committee
Nayyirah Shariff April 4, 2014 ·
With Paul Jordan, Bishop Bernadel Jefferson, Bob Mabbitt, Bethany Hazard, Claire McClinton and Blackfoot Jeremy Royer.
Kildee connection
Carma Lewis November 4, 2018 ·
We have some powerful people in Flint. Claire. You are a Rockstar! — feeling blessed with Claire McClinton at 501 Bar and Grill.
Claire McClinton with Dan Kildee.
Laura Gillespie MacIntyre She’s telling him to not compromise in the fight for Medicare for all!! I was there to witness and it was a beautiful sight to behold!!
How Class Works - 2006 Conference
2.6 Class Awareness Today
- Claire McClinton-coordinator, the Community/Advocacy Organization Poverty Roundtable “ Social and class consciousness: lessons from the Great Sit-Down Strike”
- Joyce Mills-public health nurse and anti-poverty activist, Oakland California.