Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is speaking out about the water crisis happening in Flint, Michigan. Sanders says the state’s failure to properly address the lead levels in the water supply, and the unfortunate damage that has caused for the city’s residents is reason enough for Governor Rick Snyder to resign.

Sanders’ statement reads, “There are no excuses. The governor long ago knew about the lead in Flint’s water. He did nothing. As a result, hundreds of children were poisoned.” He continues to say, “Thousands may have been exposed to potential brain damage from lead. Gov. Snyder should resign.”

 


This crisis results from a decision made by the state, on behalf of Flint, to reroute the city’s water supply from Lake Huron to the polluted Flint River. In 2013, for cost-effective purposes, the city needed an alternative to sharing Detroit’s water supply and proposed sourcing their tap water from Lake Huron. However, in an effort to cut costs further, the state instead sourced the water from the Flint River, which resulted in lead poisoning for thousands of residents, and sickened hundreds of Flint’s children.

A little over half of Flint’s population is black, and the median household income is under $25k, so the racial and economic implications of the governor’s careless response to the water crisis in Flint is without question. The health damages these American citizens have already been subjected to has been going on for two years too long, and an investigation into the unlawfulness of the situation is not only an obligation, but all who are responsible for its mishandling must be held accountable. As Sanders states, “The people of Flint deserve more than an apology.”

Photo: tumblr
Photo: tumblr
Bernie-SandersFlintmichiganrick snyderWater crisis