PHOTO/JAKE MAY, MLIVE.COM
FLINT, MI —When the Michigan Attorney General’s office dropped the bombshell on Flint residents—through the mass media—announcing the dropping of all charges in the case of the Flint water disaster, we were not prepared for the shocking reasons they gave. After the announcement, a public meeting, (two weeks later…) was held to explain their reasons.
State prosecutors Fadawa Hammoud and Kim Worthy outlined damning information from the previous charges. Among other things, they said that over 20 million documents were recently found and had not been vetted. They went on to say that numerous phone searches had not been done and that the previous special prosecutor, Todd Flood, had worked with the defense attorneys to minimize the evidence to be presented. Furthermore, what was supposed to have been plea deals (essentially dropped charges) for lower-level officials in exchange for getting some of the” bigger fish” in the probe has netted absolutely no convictions three years later. None.
The new team also shared that there was only nine months left for most of the charges to go forward. They promised the audience that they were doing everything possible to bring Justice to the residents of Flint. The case against former head of Michigan DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) Nick Lyon, charged with involuntary manslaughter, has also been dropped pending further investigation. Promises were made to the Flint residents that they would uncover as much as they could and go wherever the evidence leads them.
Despite shock and awe of the new information, residents, though visibly shaken upon hearing these new revelations, managed to ask probing questions. Will this new team pursue corruption charges related to the bond deal that allowed the new pipeline which resulted in the poisoning of this city? Will Veolia (a transnational water corporation) who acted as a consultant be brought up on charges for their role in this debacle?
Flint residents, though resilient, are beginning to wonder when and where Justice for Flint will show up. One thing we know for sure, we the People, will fight on and decide and dictate what Justice looks like.
Flint Still Woke!!
In the meantime, former Governor Rick Snyder was hired as a Senior Fellow by Harvard Kennedy School Taubman Center, but the backlash was swift and severe. Pushback included current and former fellows, faculty members, students, along with many Flint residents, calling foul against the university through an explosion on social media along with phone calls etc. As a result, Rick Snyder withdrew his appointment.
