FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Flint Rising
May 27, 2016
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Flint Group Calls on Mayor to Reverse Water Treatment Plant Decision
Officials should be working to expand resources for water testing and not engage in petty measures that hurt residents
FLINT – In a reactionary attempt to punish Flint residents for exercising their right to protest, the city’s water department has confirmed that the infamous water treatment plant will no longer be a distribution site for water sample testing kits.
The move came as a response to a ‘die-in’ held at plant last week by Flint residents within the Flint Rising Coalition, a group comprised of local residents and community groups along with state allies working to bring support to those in Flint and uplift the needs of those who have been left out of the state’s official response. Organizers of the peaceful protest chose the plant because it is ground zero for the water switch that poisoned tens of thousands of residents. Participants held the action to bring attention to the negative health effects caused by poisoned water, especially for women’s reproductive health. The group is calling on Mayor Karen Weaver to reverse the decision and continue to operate the water treatment plant as a distribution site.
“It speaks volumes that officials in the city’s water department would perform such a reactionary manner against the very citizens they are supposed to be working for. It was our activism that showed that the Flint water crisis wasn’t local workers’ fault and now we’re being punished for the same activism,” said Desiree Duell, a local artist and Flint Rising activist. “We were bringing attention to how women have been harmed because of the on-going water crisis, an aspect that has been largely overlooked in the crisis. Mayor Weaver should reject the bruised egos in this decision, re-open the water plant as a distribution center, and call for an expansion of centers.”
There is still widespread concern for the quality of water in Flint and many residents have spoken out about not trusting the flow out of their faucets and showerheads.
“We do not trust the quality of water in Flint,” Duell continued. “City officials should be working with residents to provide expanded resources around water testing and not act with reactionary tiffs because residents exercised their right to protest and bring light to the devastating situation in the city. Their current decision only furthers the trauma that has been caused by this crisis. I call on the Mayor to do what’s right by the citizens of Flint.”
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Flint Rising is a coalition of community organizations and allies working to ensure that directly impacted people are building the organizing infrastructure and leadership necessary for this long-haul fight for justice and creating the future that Flint families need and deserve. For more information, please visit www.flintrising.com