Quigley writes: "A jury trial is underway in Detroit for human rights
activists arrested for blocking trucks that were going to cut off water to
low-income families."
Isaac Wylie-Fahey, 2, grandson of defendant Bill Wylie-Kellermann, shows his
support Wednesday with his mother, Lydia Wylie-Kellermann, 29, of Detroit.
(photo: Holly Fournier/The Detroit News)
Water Resistance Trial Underway in Detroit
By Bill Quigley, Reader Supported News
19 November 15
A jury trial is underway in Detroit for human rights activists arrested for
blocking trucks that were going to cut off water to low-income families.
On July 18, 2014, dozens of people successfully blocked the trucks of the
Homrich Inc., a private wrecking company that the City of Detroit contracts
with to carry out water shutoffs. The trucks were leaving to cut off water
for Detroiters who were more than $150 past due on payments. After an
eight-hour blockade nine people were arrested.
Those on trial said civil disobedience was their only option to address the
grave public health crisis of mass water shutoffs, since the City of Detroit
was under emergency management, which effectively strips all elected
officials of decision-making power. One of the people on trial is Bill
Wylie-Kellermann, pastor of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Detroit. He told
The Detroit News, "It was, at the time, the last vestige of democracy in the
city."
Defendant Marian Kramer of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and
Highland Park Human Rights Coalition highlighted what she sees as the irony
of the City criminally charging and prosecuting defendants for nonviolent
defense of Detroiters' right to water. "The true crime is that thousands of
people who are struggling to pay their water bills are being deprived of a
basic necessity of life. Instead of implementing the Water Affordability
Plan, which would tie water rates to income and which Detroit City Council
supports, the Mayor chooses to shut off the water of thousands of
Detroiters. Who is the real criminal?"
Detroit announced last month it has already cut off water to more than
16,000 residences and warned another 49,000 that their water will be shut
off soon. People whose water has been shut off are using buckets of water
from neighbors and family.
In October 2014, two United Nations experts insisted Detroit restore water
to people unable to pay their bills, saying failure to do so is a violation
of the human rights of residents. The City's response to the UN was
dismissive: "This is the same organization that's trying to achieve world
peace -it's not going to happen."
A coalition of organizations has created the People's Water Board, which
advocates placing a moratorium on the water shutoffs, restoring service to
those whose water has been cut off, and to implementing a Water
Affordability Plan. The WAP was created by economist Roger Colton and the
Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, which runs a Water Rights Hotline:
(844) 42WATER [844-429-2837]. People interested in providing help to
families facing cutoffs can contact We the People of Detroit.
There is widespread resistance to these human rights violations. There is
good news. The Legislative Policy Division staff of the Detroit City Council
recently issued a legal opinion saying a water affordability ordinance that
would adjust water rates based on income levels can be legally created.
________________________________________
Bill Quigley teaches law at Loyola University New Orleans and can be reached
at quigley77@xxxxxxxxx .
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission
to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader
Supported News.
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Isaac Wylie-Fahey, 2, grandson of defendant Bill Wylie-Kellermann, shows his
support Wednesday with his mother, Lydia Wylie-Kellermann, 29, of Detroit.
(photo: Holly Fournier/The Detroit News)
http://readersupportednews.org/http://readersupportednews.org/
Water Resistance Trial Underway in Detroit
By Bill Quigley, Reader Supported News
19 November 15
jury trial is underway in Detroit for human rights activists arrested for
blocking trucks that were going to cut off water to low-income families.
On July 18, 2014, dozens of people successfully blocked the trucks of the
Homrich Inc., a private wrecking company that the City of Detroit contracts
with to carry out water shutoffs. The trucks were leaving to cut off water
for Detroiters who were more than $150 past due on payments. After an
eight-hour blockade nine people were arrested.
Those on trial said civil disobedience was their only option to address the
grave public health crisis of mass water shutoffs, since the City of Detroit
was under emergency management, which effectively strips all elected
officials of decision-making power. One of the people on trial is Bill
Wylie-Kellermann, pastor of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Detroit. He told
The Detroit News, "It was, at the time, the last vestige of democracy in the
city."
Defendant Marian Kramer of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization and
Highland Park Human Rights Coalition highlighted what she sees as the irony
of the City criminally charging and prosecuting defendants for nonviolent
defense of Detroiters' right to water. "The true crime is that thousands of
people who are struggling to pay their water bills are being deprived of a
basic necessity of life. Instead of implementing the Water Affordability
Plan, which would tie water rates to income and which Detroit City Council
supports, the Mayor chooses to shut off the water of thousands of
Detroiters. Who is the real criminal?"
Detroit announced last month it has already cut off water to more than
16,000 residences and warned another 49,000 that their water will be shut
off soon. People whose water has been shut off are using buckets of water
from neighbors and family.
In October 2014, two United Nations experts insisted Detroit restore water
to people unable to pay their bills, saying failure to do so is a violation
of the human rights of residents. The City's response to the UN was
dismissive: "This is the same organization that's trying to achieve world
peace -it's not going to happen."
A coalition of organizations has created the People's Water Board, which
advocates placing a moratorium on the water shutoffs, restoring service to
those whose water has been cut off, and to implementing a Water
Affordability Plan. The WAP was created by economist Roger Colton and the
Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, which runs a Water Rights Hotline:
(844) 42WATER [844-429-2837]. People interested in providing help to
families facing cutoffs can contact We the People of Detroit.
There is widespread resistance to these human rights violations. There is
good news. The Legislative Policy Division staff of the Detroit City Council
recently issued a legal opinion saying a water affordability ordinance that
would adjust water rates based on income levels can be legally created.
Bill Quigley teaches law at Loyola University New Orleans and can be reached
at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript
enabled to view it
" quigley77@xxxxxxxxx.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission
to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader
Supported News.
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