Conyers takes Hamtramck reporter to task

HAMTRAMCK — Hamtramck Review’s Charles Sercombe, who serves as both editor and reporter for the small paper, was taken to task Monday night by U.S. Congressman John Conyers for publishing an article last week about a hate crime forum.

The article, headlined “‘Hate Crime’ Meeting May Turn Into a Confrontation,” led Conyers to chastise Sercombe before nearly 100 people Monday night during the meeting.

“This is what is wrong with press,” Conyers said, holding up a copy of the newspaper. “There hasn’t been any town hall meetings [on health care reform] disrupted lately, but [the media] are still writing about it.”

Conyers noted that the disruptions were part of a national Republican strategy, then said, “This doesn’t raise to that level.”

Sercombe who was standing at the back of the Church asked Conyers to read his story before chastising him.

“Were you hoping for a confrontation?” Conyers asked Sercombe. “I resent that writing and you and I are going to have a good conversation.”

“Read the story,” Sercombe said.

“After I read the story, we’ll have an even gooder conversation,” the 44-year veteran Congressman said to Sercombe.

The story details statements by openly gay Hamtramck City Council member Scott Klein who threatened to “hijack” the meeting to protest the failure of the city’s human rights ordinance at the polls in November. Klein lost his bid for re-election in the August primary.