Help Stop Water Shutoffs in Benton Harbor, MI.

Latest

Hello Friend,

Black Autonomy Network Community Organization (BANCO) led the fight to solve Benton Harbor’s lead in drinking water crisis. But we are now in the middle of another water crisis that is devastating Benton Harbor residents because city officials are shutting off the water at homes throughout our community. This week alone more than I00 homes water were shut off. Our children must go to school without bathing, and they are also unable to use the toilets. We just lived through one of the worst water crises in the country and now this. 

Banco
Photo / BANCO

BANCO has been helping Benton Harbor residents pay their water bills. We’re also delivering bottled water to homes. We are working with other groups to win statewide water affordability measures, but these solutions are not in place. 

Here are two messages we received this week from Benton Harbor residents:

Jamie Crum: “Rev. Edward Pinkney and BANCO helped us get our water turned back on and we appreciate him so much for all the help! The water department told me that we should have paid our bill because the water was good, but the water is not good. She also said that it doesn’t matter that the bill accumulated while the lead was in the water. They said we used the water to flush and take showers, so we have to pay. The lady on the phone was extremely rude, loud, unprofessional, and disrespectful.

Shari Szilagyi: “We are lucky to have a community member like Reverend Ed Pinkney providing funds to help many folks out of horrible situation facing shut-offs, and the water is still not safe to drink.”

Water is life! We urgently need your donations to support this work. 

Thank you in advance for your help!

Benton Harbor Community Water Council 

Black Autonomy Network Community Organization

Rev. Edward Pinkney, President 

+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Journalist Says Why ‘I Can No Longer Work With Reuters’

A photojournalist says why it is impossible for her to maintain a relationship with Reuters "given its role in justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza."

Abrego Garcia Detained Again, Could be Deported to Uganda

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant worker, was freed from detention in Tennessee Aug. 22 and then re-arrested by ICE on Aug. 25 in Maryland. The Trump administration is trying to deport Abrego Garcia to Uganda.

An Open Letter to Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose, CA.

From the San Jose CA Frontlines: Stop the sweeps. Unhoused people want a safe place to stay. All people should be respected, shown compassion, understanding.

Global Food Authority Declares Catastrophic Famine in Gaza

On Aug. 22, the world's top authority on hunger crises officially declared that a catastrophe-level famine in Gaza exists—a humanitarian disaster engineered by Israel's relentless blockade of food aid and other life-saving supplies.

Thousands of Texans Protest Trump’s Redistricting Plan To Get More Votes

The Texas capitol of Austin saw 5,000 people protesting Trump’s unconstitutional redistricting plan and other issues threatening our democracy.

More from the People's Tribune