Detroit activists block trucks sent to shut off water

[TBF]

Detroit activists block trucks sent to shut off water

Protesters say direct action will continue until city stops turning off taps to delinquent customers
July 10, 2014 1:27PM ET
by Peter Moskowitz

As Detroit’s water provider continues to carry out its plan to turn off the taps for tens of thousands of nonpaying customers across the city, activists are resorting to civil disobedience in an attempt to stop what they call a human rights violation.

Some 50 demonstrators on Thursday held a protest outside the offices of Homrich, a company contracted by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) to stop the flow to residences at least two months past due on their accounts. At least nine of the activists were arrested by Detroit police and charged with disorderly conduct when they temporarily blocked trucks from leaving the company’s parking lot. They were released on bail hours later.

While the protest was relatively small, activists say it’s a sign of things to come if DWSD continues shutting off water lines. The activists say that in a city with a poverty rate of 44 percent, and where water bills are higher than in much of the country, Detroit should work out a solution with poor residents instead of leaving them dry. Otherwise, they say, they’ll have no other choice but to take to the streets ...

Much more here: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/7/10/detroit-water-protests.html

[socialist_n_TN]

1. This is what we'll need more of in a LOT more areas and places........

and over a lot more issues. The willingness to be arrested when fighting the system that controls the judiciary just means that you recognize the unjustness of that system.

In this specific case, there's also the need for some trained technicians who know how to turn the water back ON again. Like they did some in Greece with utilities.

[randys1]

2. Without Democratic Socialism, the suffering will be so extreme

violence will be common place, thus the militarizing of the cops to protect the rich from the rest of us...

A well known activist (Dave Marsh) says the police exist to protect the rich from everyone else, and I agree that ultimately that is why they exist...

Katrina was a perfect illustration of this.

I am hopeful that we can somehow reverse the insane militarization of the police, because if we dont, those cannons and tanks will be pointing
at US sooner than we think.

[TBF]

3. Good comments -

Here in Houston we took in evacuees from NE. There were churches and organizations that helped but the brunt of it fell on individuals who welcomed folks into their extra rooms and garage apartments. That's how it will continue in this country - we will need to band together, help each other out, and fight back.

[Starry Messenger]

4. It drives me nuts, all the crap we fund, and Detroit is left to suffer.

There was money to invite in all those charter schools and run up huge loans, but no water for the people.