December 31, 2015

Severely Contaminated Water System in Flint Prompts Calls for Arrest of Michigan Governor, Accusations of Genocide Against Black People

Manny Otiko

(Jake May/MLive.com)

The city of Flint, Mich. is currently facing an environmental disaster, as authorities have declared the local water system has been contaminated by lead and copper poisoning. The situation is so bad that the city is giving out free water filters to local residents. Mayor Karen Weaver has called the situation an “emergency.”

Flint, which is 60 percent Black, is still dealing with the consequences of decisions made by Ed Kurtz, an emergency manager appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder, and the city council. Emergency managers are appointed to run economically-distressed towns and poorly-performing school districts.

Snyder’s decision to appoint several managers to oversee troubled Michigan municipalities has proven to be controversial. According to Democracy Now!, 52 percent of Black Michigan residents lived in areas overseen by emergency managers from 2013-14. Only 2 percent of white residents lived under emergency managers.

In 2013, the Flint city council voted 7-1 to stop buying water from Detroit, and start receiving water from the Karegnondi Water Authority according to MLive.com. The decision was supposed to save the city $19 million over eight years. Kurtz signed off on the decision. However, the new water system would not be ready for three years, so the city turned to the local Flint River as a source of water. This plan was implemented by state-appointed emergency manager Darnell Earley.

However, soon after the switch to the new water supply, residents started complaining about foul-smelling water. They also reported water that was brown and yellow. Four months after the switch, the city told residents to boil their water, because it was contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria. The water was so bad that General Motors said they would no longer use it in their plant because of fears it would cause corrosion.

Flint residents have reported devastating health effects from the contaminated water. LeeAnne Walters told Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman that her family broke out in rashes that looked like chemical burns from using the water. Melissa Mayes said she has seen changes in the academic performance of her children.

“Well, my sons, all three of them, are very bright. They had a great future going. Their school—their grades in school were fantastic. My oldest is actually taking high school and college classes at the same time, so he scored so well, he was able to do that, so he would have an associate’s degree by the time he graduated high school,” Mayes said. “Well, now he’s struggling. He needs a tutor. And he has a C average, which is unheard of for him. And he’s really getting down on himself, because he’s missing small things, pluses and minuses in algebra, little small things, because of brain fog.”

Mulenga Harangua, who designs and sells T-shirts, told Metro Times columnist Larry Gabriel the polluted water would have long-term consequences for Flint.

“It’s a lifetime for those kids,” Harangua said. “Mayor Weaver says this is going to cause a greater need for special education, mental health services, and some accommodation from the juvenile justice system.”

He was also scathing in his criticism of Gov. Rick Snyder, saying he needs to be arrested for the Flint water situation.

“This abomination lies squarely at the feet of Gov. Snyder. No, not at his feet, it’s in his heart and soul, his psyche,” Harangua said. “He was warned that the water from the Flint River would leach lead from the pipes without fixing them for that use. He poisoned the residents of Flint in order to save some money. It’s heartless, cruel, and I would hazard to say criminal.”

Filmmaker Michael Moore’s criticism of Snyder was even harsher.

“This is a racial killing. Flint MI is 60% black. When u knowingly poison a black city, u r committing a version of genocide,” he said in a tweet.

http://atlantablackstar.com/2015/12/31/severely-contaminated-water-system-in-flint-prompts-calls-for-arrest-of-michigan-governor-accusations-of-genocide-against-black-people/

Poisonous lie: Flint government lied about lead: http://youtu.be/OdNCr_9upYQ/

flint water | Michigan Radio

http://michiganradio.org/term/flint-water/

Flint Water Study Updates | Up-to-date information on our collaborative research and citizen science work with the residents of Flint, MI in light of reported water quality issues

http://flintwaterstudy.org/

Every now & then I come across a story where I am (almost) embarrassed to be an American.
I have read stories about Alaskan Eskimos, Kentucky Appalachians, South West Native Americans etc.. All for have been forgotten, ignored, dismissed, abused.

This Flint Water Crisis is an American disgrace!

I don't care the Michigan Governor declared a State Of Emergency (approx 12/17/3015). I don't care he has apologized (a few days ago), for " the way it was handled ".

Political leaders are no different than anyone else or at least they shouldn't be. There are consequences to our actions & in actions.

IMO -This man & all who are involved have committed crimes & should be in prison.

„Hang 'Em High" -- Main Theme http://youtu.be/fWsc-ITr4eM/

All true, but one must ask why the water is so bad?

Corporate/political pollution and corruption? Voters not funding or passing ballot measures on taxes? Policies creating poverty and area distress?

GM is also not noted these days as being the American icon it used to be.... not since it became "Government Motors" anyway

These corporations will pay $10,000 a day in pollution fines when they are making 1000 times that or more in a day... and no CEO will ever see the inside of a jail or prison!

Steven Seagal's latter movies all had a message about corporate corruption until he got rich and sold out. Now he sits back and just does charities while he watches his investments grow.

The fact that the article decided to include Michael Moore's thoughts has made me not give a damn....his fatazz ahould pick up a shovel and start digging a well

been going on for awhile now
I know a mom where I work
she is divorced and her ex lives in Flint
anytime her son goes there for weekend
she sends bottled water with him
and he is not allowed to bathe
until he comes home sunday night

really no excuse for it
except some tight fisted bastage wants to save money
does not care about how it is hurting the people living there

The moment Michael Moore is involved the credibility of the article is automatically flushed down the toilet.

Yea, Democracy Now!, is a leftist political rag. I wouldn't use it to wipe my azz. Probably Soros funded.

Humm.. Okay.
To hell with the ' dumming down ' of Michigan

Do not forget that Governor Snyder also implemented back around 2011 changes to the Emergency Financial Manager law(s) that now allow the EFM to literally go in and fire all elected officials of the city they are overseeing and sit in their place, as well as barring the fired persons from running for any public office again for ten years...

I was part of the original movement back in early 2012 in Bay City to get signatures on a petition to revoke those very changes. We had way more than enough signatures and you know what happened? Governor Snyder got the petition tossed out in court due to it being typed up in the wrong size font.




HEIL SNYDER!!!

well u know that was BS / he was friends with the judge ...this has gone to far now ... and to many eyes on this state of emergency wow wants others to pay for his mistakes ...