Justice for Water

At the beginning of the New Year, the Great Lakes Water Authority will take over responsibility for providing water to more than 4 million people. This new Authority is the product of the bankruptcy process and has been unfolding behind closed doors under court control.

What we do know is not reassuring. Management of the Detroit elements of the water department has been placed under the leadership of Gary Brown. Mr. Brown has absolutely no claim of expertise on water systems. A blue ribbon committee has been appointed to explore water affordability, but the committee intentionally excluded all local community advocates for water affordability from its deliberations.

These plans are unfolding in an atmosphere of heightened distrust of the state authorities charged with the responsibility of protecting the quality of our water supply. What has become obvious to everyone is that the Governor, his appointed financial managers, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality are more interested in saving money than protecting lives and health. They are also willing to lie and cover up mistakes rather than protect public health. The debacle in Flint, highlighted a system that is fundamentally broken. The continued water shutoffs in Detroit highlight a system that is fundamentally unsustainable.

While virtually all legal authorities have refused to seriously discuss how to provide safe, affordable water, citizens have organized a variety of responses. In response to the failures of the government, people in Flint developed sophisticated water testing systems. People in Detroit have been pressuring for an income based water affordability plan and have organized to provide fresh water to those shut off from city supplies. Churches and community centers have set up official “water stations” and unofficially neighbors are stretching hoses across yards, or sharing tap water in homes.

Over the first 12 days of December, Detroiters are organizing a series of events to continue to pressure officials for a serious water affordability plan based on income. They are also pressuring State Legislative officials to provide an expanded legal framework to support and protect water as a human right and precious resource.

As the Great Lakes Water Authority takes shape, the choices we make to frame it will shape the future of our city and our region. Will we continue to be guided by a desire to save money and do things as cheaply as possible, or will we face the difficult questions of how to ensure that all people have access to the sustenance of life?

This crisis of water is a crisis of values. It is an opportunity for us to establish a new basis of responsibilities to one another and for our earth. Join the events welcoming in December by doing what you can to ensure justice for water.

Opening Statement

Homrich trial, 11/20/15

Bill Wylie-Kellermann

Good afternoon. Thank you for serving on this jury. I myself am called to serve on a jury the week after Thanksgiving so, depending on how long this trial goes, I could be very soon sitting in your seat. Part of me frets about how I’ll do it after a week of trial (who will cover pastoral calls and soup kitchen), but I do understand the importance of it, especially given the seat I’m in today.

I’m a native-born Detroit and honored to be counted among the people of Detroit, eligible for a jury, part of a body that brings conscience and care to serving justice in the City.

I’m also honored to be on trial with Marian Kramer. She is one of my friends and mentors in the ministries of social justice. We will put her on the stand so you will get to hear about her life and work and so see for yourselves what I’m saying.

I’m representing myself in this case. That’s somewhat unusual, but you heard Judge Garrett explain that it is my right, one I’m exercising. In a certain sense, the action that you will see recounted speaks for itself in many ways. We trust it was clear as it stands. The opportunity to speak for myself directly to you about it only enhances its truth. I’m a pastor, not a lawyer. I’m not studied in the law, though I do believe that both the gospel and the law should serve justice. [Prosecutor: Objection, your honor, this trial is not about the gospel.]

There are going to be objections in this trial as we go forward, from both sides. There are a number of things that I think are crucial to this trial that the prosecutor believes are irrelevant and should not be mentioned. In any event I’ll be doing my best to navigate the rules of court.

You will hear described, by officers, by ourselves and our friends, even see video of the events from July 18,2014 – when we went to the driveway of Homrich Inc., a private demolition company contracted by the city for $5.2 million to do water shut-offs, tens of thousands of them. You will see us gather, pray and sing, and then stand in the driveway for 7 1/12 hours. You’ll see the cops across the street the whole time, before we were finally arrested. And you will hear from one of our friends who was arrested with us, but never charged.

We expect to put ourselves on the stand. So that we can talk about our intent, what we were thinking when we did this action. We’ll explain what we knew from our own experience about people who had their water shut off. And about other things we had attempted in order to prevent the harm. You will hear a statement by National Nurses United, issued just the day before, about the public health crisis in the city. You will see us deliver to Homrich a press statement from the United Nations saying that to turn off the water of people who can’t afford to pay is a violation of human rights. [Objection, your honor]

I have to say I and others have waited a long time to bring this case to you. It’s now going on a year and a half, but the events are still vivid to us, because they were full of meaning. When we were arraigned last summer, we asked immediately for a jury trial. Back then, you may remember that every elected official in the City of Detroit had been replaced by one man – the Emergency Manager – who had put the city into bankruptcy. The elected school board had been replaced by emergency management. Even the Library commission was under assault. So we were mindful that a jury of Detroiters represented the last remaining form of democracy in the city. We were eager to put this case before you to vote on the matters of justice.

What I would ask of you in these days at hand: keep your eyes open; keep your ears open, your hearts open, your conscience open. Look for the meaning and spirit of these events. If you do that I will gladly put myself in your hands. Thank you again for serving in this way.