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• 1 2024-08-16T15:08:51+00:00 From Silence to Voices: Community Response and Legal Action in Flint 10 plain 2024-08-16T22:19:25+00:00

  Community Response

  A said by Flint community member Pastor Robert McCathern, “We’re very acquainted to human suffering. This community has been acquainted to abandonment — to not trusting health systems, not having relationships with health systems and not having access at a level of comfortability. People have to come out of their safe zones to access health. Marginalized communities, people of color, have to go on and survive. They have to go through it.” 25-year-old Flint resident Teagan Medlin shared that she uses her foot stamp benefits on bottled water deliveries for her newborns bottles and refuses to bathe her in the city. Looking at an older perspective, 73-year-old Jacquinne Reynolds speaks on the lack of communication with the residents, saying they did not know the water’s effects- the personal example being her dreadlocks falling out. While Flint residents were left in the dark of what the effects could, and would, entail, residents such as Claire McClinton appeared at a demonstration, among others, with tape over their mouths representing their voices being silenced. All forms of protest occurred, and McClinton used the example of people bringing water that looked like “English tea” to highlight the severity of the situation. The community's response to the crisis didn't stop at protests. Flint residents have actively engaged in recovery and advocacy efforts, including establishing the Flint Registry, which tracks health problems linked to the water crisis and connects people to health, diet, and education resources. The Flint Youth Justice League and other advisory groups have given a platform to adults and youth, encouraging them to voice their concerns and actively participate in the city's recovery. College students like Everett Graham and Melodie Marsh, who grew up in Flint, have been involved in the Flint Public Health Youth Academy, using their experiences to advocate for change and raise awareness on issues ranging from environmental justice to gun violence. These efforts are about addressing the past and empowering the next generation to create a better future for Flint.

  Legal Action

  The response to the Flint water crisis involved a comprehensive federal effort under the direction of President Obama, who declared a state of emergency for Michigan on January 16, 2016. This declaration enabled the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide essential resources, including over 9 million liters of water and 50,000 filters, to Flint residents. Additionally, federal support was further demonstrated through a package of over $80 million directed toward long-term infrastructure improvements and health services, including expanded Medicaid coverage for affected children and pregnant women, blood lead testing initiatives, and behavioral health services. These efforts were coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), working closely with other federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to restore Flint's water system and support the city's recovery. In parallel, legal actions were initiated against key officials involved in the decisions leading to the crisis. In September 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear appeals of lower court orders dismissing felony charges against several officials, including former Governor Richard Snyder and others charged with the crisis. The court's decision was based on its 2022 ruling, which overturned decades of precedent regarding using one-man grand juries, a process that had been used to bring these charges. This decision led to profound dissatisfaction from Flint residents and leaders, who felt justice was denied. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley criticized the ruling, stating that it further eroded public trust in the government's ability to hold those responsible accountable. Despite the court's ruling, many individuals remain committed to exploring ways to release the evidence related to the charges and ensure that the truth is made public, and justice is served. The legal setbacks have only intensified the frustration and sense of injustice among Flint residents, many of whom continue to suffer from the long-term effects of the crisis. The unresolved legal battles highlight the ongoing struggle for accountability and transparency in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis as the community works to rebuild trust in government institutions.