The following is an abridged version of a statement by the Flint Democracy Defense League.
FLINT, MI — The State of Michigan has dealt yet another blow to the residents of Flint with the recently announced $600 million so-called compensatory “settlement” (before pre-attorney fees) for the poisoning. There has been a slew of abuse foisted upon the people here by the State of Michigan for over seven years. The Flint crisis has guaranteed crumbs for the people and a substantial payday for special interests.
Background: The state’s actions included allowing unelected “Emergency Managers” to use their powers to, in 2014, switch the city’s water source to the Flint River, from which lead and other toxins leached into our homes and our bodies. And denying the toxicity of the water, until voices of the people broke thru.
The City of Flint recently agreed to fork over $20 million to join the State, even though Flint DID NOT poison itself. While this negotiated preliminary settlement with the State affords 80% of the money to children, the provisions of the settlement could leave hundreds if not thousands of Flint victims [including children] with NO compensation at all.
At the start of the water disaster in 2014, doctors refused to attribute any symptoms to the water, choosing to believe false information from the state. Though it was impossible to obtain documentation of illness caused by contaminated water at that time, the current settlement does not award any compensation to adults [and many children] who lacked such documentation.
One of the largest man-made environmental disasters in U.S. history happened to Flint. Cities and towns all over the country are looking to Flint as a model for restorative justice. The case is now in the hands of Federal Judge Judith Levy.
Undeterred, water Warriors groups and scores of individuals, along with groups such as Black Millennials for Flint, continue to empower residents through Facebook posts, online petitions, letters to the Judge, and more to sound the alarm. In this New Year, we look forward to securing justice for all Flint residents.
