JeDonna Matthews Dinges, the victim of the hate attack, gives her remarks during the rally at St. Ambrose Church, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., following a white resident's display of a Ku Klux Klan flag in a side window facing her home. Dinges said the klan flag was hanging next door in a window directly across from her dining room. The incident occurred two weeks ago.(Clarence Tabb, Jr./Detroit News via AP)
The Associated Press
GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. (AP) - A prosecutor declined to file charges Tuesday against a suburban Detroit man who displayed a Ku Klux Klan flag in his window next to the home of a Black family, saying the 'œhorrible conduct'ť doesn't violate Michigan law.
An ethnic intimidation charge would require physical contact, property damage or threats of such activity, said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
'œI strongly encourage the Michigan Legislature to look, revise and create laws to protect citizens from this kind of horrible conduct," said Worthy, who is Black.
JeDonna Dinges, 57, of Grosse Pointe Park, said the klan flag was hanging next door in a window directly across from her dining room. The incident occurred two weeks ago.
The flag was removed after police with large cloths visited the home and made a switch, City Manager Nick Sizeland told the Detroit Free Press last week.
The man's girlfriend claimed they couldn't afford a curtain, Sizeland said.
'œThere is absolutely no question that what happened to Ms. Dinges was despicable, traumatizing and completely unacceptable," Worthy said. 'œBut, very unfortunately in my view, not a crime. The KKK flag, while intending to be visible to Ms. Dinges, was hanging inside of her neighbor's house.'ť
The klan was a secretive society organized in the South after the Civil War to assert white supremacy, often using violence.
Dinges said she understood Worthy's position.
"I hope the lawmakers are listening. ... The average person would not own a klan flag, which is a true symbol of hatred,'ť Dinges said.
Dozens of people turned out for a Feb. 21 march and rally to support her.
Before the flag incident, Dinges said she was concerned about her safety after finding a full gas can inside her outdoor recycling bin.
Nicklas Bare, 16, left, and his brother Joshua,11, of Warren, Mich., walk north on Wayburn St. during the walking rally to protest hate and racism, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., following a white resident's display of a Ku Klux Klan flag in a side window facing their Black neighbor's home. JeDonna Dinges, 57, of Grosse Pointe Park, said the klan flag was hanging next door in a window directly across from her dining room. The incident occurred two weeks ago.(Clarence Tabb, Jr./Detroit News via AP)
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Chuck Palmer, 67, second from left, of Grosse Pointe Parks, walks south on Wayburn St. during the walking rally to protest hate and racism, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., following a white resident's display of a Ku Klux Klan flag in a side window facing their Black neighbor's home. JeDonna Dinges, 57, of Grosse Pointe Park, said the klan flag was hanging next door in a window directly across from her dining room. The incident occurred two weeks ago. (Clarence Tabb, Jr./Detroit News via AP)
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Victoria Wittenberg, 18 second from left, of Grosse Pointe Park and her mom Kelly Wittenberg, center, walk north on Wayburn St. during a walking rally to protest hate and racism in their neighborhood, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., following a white resident's display of a Ku Klux Klan flag in a side window facing their Black neighbor's home. JeDonna Dinges, 57, of Grosse Pointe Park, said the klan flag was hanging next door in a window directly across from her dining room. The incident occurred two weeks ago. (Clarence Tabb, Jr./Detroit News via AP)
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Anasofia Lopez, 5, of Grosse Pointe Park and her brother Joaquin Lopez, 8, left, stand with others prior to the start of the walking rally to protest against hate and racism in their neighborhoods Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., following a white resident's display of a Ku Klux Klan flag in a side window facing their Black neighbor's home. JeDonna Dinges, 57, of Grosse Pointe Park, said the klan flag was hanging next door in a window directly across from her dining room. The incident occurred two weeks ago. (Clarence Tabb, Jr./Detroit News via AP)
The Associated Press