Tuesday, an estimated 120 members of Greater Cleveland Congregations took chartered buses to Detroit to protest the $160 million in public contributions to the Quicken Loans Arena upgrades.
Led by Pastor Jawanza Colvin of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church and Rev. John Lentz of Forest Hill Presbyterian, demonstrators rallied in a plaza outside the Quicken Loans and Rock Ventures Corporate offices.
Photos by Sam Allard
Outside Olivet, GCC members grab snacks and pins for the road. Credit: Sam AllardAlways plenty of XLs. Credit: Sam AllardGCC chartered three buses. Olivet’s robust contingent filled up a single bus all by itself. (Media was in bust #2 with the GCC Strategy team and others). Buses departed at 8:30 a.m. Credit: Sam AllardDetroit, after a 2.5-hour drive. GM Building in the distance. Credit: Sam AllardRock Ventures LLC headquarters. Credit: Sam AllardThe Rev. John Lentz leads GCC members (from bus 2) to the plaza. Credit: Sam AllardRev. Jawanza Colvin revs up the crowd. Credit: Sam Allard“The people united, will never be defeated.” Credit: Sam AllardRev. Aramis Hinds, a DRIVE pastor, with an invocation. Credit: Sam AllardThe Rev. Louis Forsythe, a DRIVE pastor, welcomes GCC. Credit: Sam AllardLinda Robinson, from the GCC strategy team, outlines the Q deal and provides background on the #notallin campaign. Credit: Sam AllardRev. John Lentz highlights GCC’s issues with the deal — among other things, “giving millions to a billionaire.” Credit: Sam AllardDonnesha Cooper, the mother of Alianna DeFreeze, is a Detroit native. She was in town visiting family, but came to speak out in support of GCC and against the deal. She is embraced by friend Tanya Robinson as a member of DRIVE captures the proceedings. Credit: Sam AllardA prayer for Alianna and others slain on Cleveland’s streets. Credit: Sam AllardDonna Weinburger, of GCC’s strategy team, explains the Community Equity Fund and its goals. Credit: Sam Allard“Come on down!” “Come on down!” Credit: Sam AllardOne goal of the action was to hand-deliver a letter to Dan Gilbert or one of his representatives. Credit: Sam AllardJawanza Colvin, with an electrifying call to action. Credit: Sam AllardColvin and the GCC Strategy team, directed by security to the Rock Ventures building. Credit: Sam AllardCredit: Sam AllardTHE MAN BUN himself, Rock Ventures COO Josh McManus, meeting Colvin and the strategy team. Credit: Sam AllardMembers gather for lunch at Detroit’s Second Baptist Church after the action. Credit: Sam Allard
