By Angela Wills
People all over the country are hearing daily reports of the condition involving the Flint water system. Cries of concern and pledges to help with the water supply have come in mass groves for the city. However, the root of the problem still remains as there seems to be no direct solution in sight for resolving this matter.
One person who is indeed fed up and is demanding answers regarding the plan of action, if there is one, is Reverend Ezra Tillman, Jr.
Religious leaders from around the country came together in Flint, Michigan earlier in the week for what has been termed the Environmental Justice Rally for Flint. This is one of several call to action events that has taken place since the Flint water crisis became public and the main objective is a common one. People want to know what’s being done to correct this potentially deadly issue.
Jeff Johnson, guest host of NewsOne Now was in attendance, in addition to many other concerned members of the African-American community, including hip-hop legend Russel Simmons and Attorney Ben Crump.
The rally took place at the First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, where Reverend Ezra Tillman, Jr. provided an update on the event that was aimed at assisting the residents of Flint who are being poisoned by the water supply of the city.
Rev. Tillman, Jr. wants to hear a plan of action on how the city of Flint can come back from what he describes as a ‘manmade’ disaster. He said, Gov. Snyder needs to show some action concerning his statement of saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m going to show you I’m going to do something about it.’ “
Rev. Tillman said, “I believe many fear those who are watching or are being affected by this…that it’s going to be the way it’s always been.”
Tillman wonders and questioned if Flint residents will “truly get some type of support, some type of federal investigation, something that’s going to be pressing” to force the Snyder administration to do something major to correct this debilitating, devastating, and possibly deadly Flint water crisis.
In addition, Reverend Tillman expressed his concern with the long existing frustration that he and other people in the community have experienced, saying the “tragedy” of living in Flint is that “you get used to being oppressed and you just live with it.”
