FLINT, Mich. — Anger is bubbling up in this town where people can’t drink out of their faucets because a polluted river is causing lead to poison their drinking water.
Just below that anger is an immense dose of fear.
Both emotions were on display Saturday evening in the Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopalian Church on the city’s south side. In a “people’s hearing,” with a seat left empty for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who declined an invitation, residents of the city turned out to tell their stories.
Rev. Ira Edwards of the Damascus Holy Life Baptist Church summed up how many in the crowd felt: The state of Michigan decided Flint residents didn’t matter and didn’t care if their water was poisoned.
“Some communities are expendable,” he said. “We only average $24,000 a year in income. We don’t contribute much. We are expendable.”
Since April 2014, Flint has had lead-contaminated water coming out of the faucets that carry city tap water. The lead pipes that carry water to homes from the city’s cast iron mains have been corroding due to the acidic water from the Flint River.
The city switched to the Flint River from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department nearly two years ago due a decision by a state-appointed emergency manager. The city council had voted to join a new water system to save money, but due to the role of the emergency manager, who held final say, the vote was symbolic.
That emergency manager then made the unilateral decision to use the Flint River water.
The state declared a state of emergency in January and Flint residents have been directed not to drink the tap water. Many residents have been drinking, and bathing in, bottled water for months. It’s weighing on them.
One woman worried that the water supply caused a tumor in her kidney. There were children who think the lead in the water killed their dog or killed their fish.
Tammy Loren blames the lead-poisoned water for changing her boys. Their grades dropped. Their behavior has changed. They’re sick.
“They’re not the same kids,” she said, choking back tears. One man talked about contracting an illness through the water that made him lose 25 pounds in 15 days. He said he and his wife both saw their hair fall out because of the water.
Nakia Wakes blamed the water system for causing her to have a miscarriage. She says she’s suffered because of the water and she wants to see decision makers answer for their choices.
“I believe Gov. Snyder and all elected officials need to be held accountable,” she said.
Much of the anger is focused on Snyder and the state officials who Flint residents think wantonly put them in danger.
Every time a speaker said “they knew” the water wasn’t safe, the crowd at the 140-year-old church murmured in agreement.
It’s hard for people here to believe the government will help them. In an overwhelmingly Democratic city, many distrust Republicans especially. Right now, there’s an aid package in the U.S. Senate that’s being blocked by one Republican senator. In the Michigan House of Representatives, the top Republican has said no new money will come to help until at least October.
Kenneth McCloud is among those who called for residents to take action. He said he’s ready to be on the front lines, ready to be a warrior for Flint.
“For a person to violate God’s creations, you violate all humanity,” he said. “And that’s what’s been done to us. We’ve been violated.”
Underneath the anger and fear is residents cited a determination that’s always been a hallmark of Flint, the place that gave legitimacy to the United Auto Workers by fighting General Motors decades ago.
Edwards said Flint isn’t going away. Residents will not remain silent. There’s a lot of national media in town this weekend, due to the Democratic presidential primary debate here on Sunday, and Flint will not be quiet once they leave, he said.
And the residents themselves say they are not going anywhere.
Georgia Pierson, a retired teacher who chose to stay in Flint when she left the classroom, said she started boiling her water early last year.
When the water boiled, a film would rise to the top. When she poured it out, a white powder was left on the side. She said she knew something was wrong, but she refused to leave.
“I choose to stay here. Whatever my ex-students go through, I’ll go through,” she said.
