FEBRUARY 9, 2024 RACIAL JUSTICE D.A Groundcover contributor The Pull Over Prevention program is a car repair clinic that started in southeast Michigan as a result of the murder of George Floyd and others during encounters with police officers. It began in August 2020, led by Natasha Abner of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Mutual Aid Network of Ypsilanti and other current volunteers. According to the Ypsilanti Mutual Aid Network, “Police and immigration officers use minor automotive issues as reasons to stop, search, fine and deport people. POP volunteers provide repair and advice for these issues, share repair skills and promote access to local resources.” Pull Over Prevention is a great endeavor that a lot of community organizations have got on board with in order to reduce unnecessary confrontations with law enforcement and bridge the gap for those experiencing financial difficulties, who are most likely unable to afford needed minor car repairs. Community organizations and the services and resources they offer include: • Bløm Meadworks donated part of their proceeds for the entire month of January 2024. They also sponsored a benefit fundraiser on January 21. I want to thank all who attended and supported this event. • Wee Wah Productions organized a big fundraiser in Ypsilanti, Michigan that raised over $1,000. • Masjid Ibrahim, a mosque in Ypsilanti, has hosted five to six POP events annually. • FedUp Ministries provides a freefood truck and lots of food assistance around Washtenaw County. • Pet Pals Mutual Aid provides free pet supplies. They do this because they realize that pets are family, too. • Car Seats of Michigan offers free car seat safety inspections and can sometimes provide free car seats. • Home of New Vision gives away harm reduction supplies like Narcan and they provide support for recovery from substance use disorders. • Packard Health dispenses free and low cost COVID and flu vaccines. • Peace House Ypsilanti is a house of hospitality that provides support for people experiencing homelessness and/or food insecurity. Also on hand are harm reduction supplies and hand warmers, foot warmers and tents for people living outside. • Ypsilanti Bike Co-op helps with free bike repairs in the spring and summer. • Washtenaw County Health Department provides free health supplies and information about local resources, and works with Packard Health to do free vaccines. • Legal Services of South Central provides Michigan free legal assistance. • Good Wolff provides free support and information for dog training. • Washtenaw Camp Outreach provides free street survival resources and camping supplies. • Mutual Aid Network of Ypsilanti is POP volunteers and participating organizations. a nonprofit that fiscally sponsors the events and also furnishes a free store which offers a variety of items such as household goods and clothing. • Michigan General Defense Committee, inspired by and with help from southeast Michigan POP, started another Pull Over Prevention that happens the first Sunday of the month in Lansing. • Huron Valley Democratic Socialists of America helps sponsor and support the POP events. I want to add that The Pull Over Prevention Program offers a booklet that lists some of your rights. I spoke briefly with Officer Bondy of the Ann Arbor Police Department and she told me that people can also be kinder to law enforcement agents. They have a very difficult job to do and they are also concerned for their safety, too. I hope to see more programs implemented by Prosecutor Eli Savit about safety when dealing with people with mental illness. I hope that we all can be treated with dignity, respect and fairness. If you’re a professional, hobbyist, curious or retired mechanic, you can help make POP Clinics and help requests possible. If you might know a mechanic, please let them know about POP. POP needs interpreters, too! Spanish and Arabic speakers often attend Pull Over Prevention. If you know someone who speaks a language other than English, either natively or fluently, please send them our way. The next Pull Over Prevention is Saturday, February 10, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church Ypsilanti (120 N Huron St.). It occurs every second Saturday at rotating locations. Instagram: @ypsi_pop Facebook: @PullOverPrevention Email: pop@ypsimutualaid.org GROUNDCOVER NEWS Pull Over Prevention grows with community support 7 "The Color Purple" movie is awesome I really enjoyed the new “The Color Purple” movie written by Alice Walker. I really think the new “The Color Purple” movie is awesome. There’s also “The Color Purple” movie from back in the 80s, too. I like both versions. I love both versions. The new one is very colorful and musical. The new “The Color Purple” movie is also very detailed and very funny. The new “The Color Purple” movie has very sparkling, colorful and shiny clothing that the actors wear. I love all the pretty clothes they wore. I loved the music, too. I like the part where Celie tells Harpo to beat Sofia and Sofia confronts her about it. I thought it was so funny when she said, “You told Harpo to beat me!” and she responds “No!” and Sofia called “Push Da Button.” I liked the part where they go to church and I love gospel singing. Another part I love is when Celie DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 tells her she’s “A damn liar.” And then they start singing and dancing. I enjoyed the music because it was funny, too. There is a song called “Hell no!” The part where Celie and Shug Avery are singing and dancing is a song made all the colorful pants, and they were unique and different and Mister bought the one that no one was likely to buy. Another great part was when Celie reunited with her sister, kids and family. That was a very touching and happy-tears part that I really loved. I loved Shug Avery and Celie's friendship; Shug really brought happiness and joy to Celie. “The Color Purple” is a movie about friendship and love and family and Black culture and I will always love both versions of the story and movie. I recommend this movie for anyone to see.
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