Ethnics protest Detroit’s plan for African Town
BY MARISOL BELLO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
September 29, 2004
Members of Detroit’s Latino, Asian and Arab communities demanded a public apology from the City Council on Tuesday, denouncing the body for embracing an economic development plan that would exclusively benefit black business owners.
During a protest rally, leaders of the various ethnic communities said they want the council to rescind the resolutions it passed supporting the plan, and they want to meet with the council to correct what they say is offensive rhetoric in a report that forms the basis of the council’s plan to create a black business district to be known as African Town. The plan also would create a loan fund only for blacks.