National Nurses United

4 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G J U LY | A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 MICHIGAN A bout 3,000 registered nurses, community, labor, environ- mental, and community activists marched in Detroit July 18 in a massive protest against the shutoff of water to tens of thou- sands of city residents—an action the marchers called a blatant violation of human rights that creates a public health emergency. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Depart- ment had recently stepped up its program to cut off water to customers who had fallen behind on their bills—even as it left the pipes flowing to commercial customers such as golf courses and sports arenas that owe hundreds of thousands of dollars. Despite reports that Detroit residents suffer from disproportionately high water bills compared to other areas of the country, the city council voted in June to increase rates by almost 9 percent. Many residents are in the midst of disputing their high or what they claim are erroneous bills. Waving signs reading "Water is a Human Right," "Turn on the Water. Tax Wall Street," "Water = Life," and "Nurses are the Real Emergency Managers," marchers streamed through downtown Detroit to a big rally in front of the city and county building after a stop at a branch of Chase bank. Protesters called for immediate restora- tion of water to all and for a Robin Hood Tax to be levied on the Wall Street banks that created the economic crash of 2008 and are largely responsible for the financial devasta- tion of cities like Detroit, which is now in bankruptcy. In fact, aggressive bill collection tactics by the city water department are in direct response to the department's claim of need- ing to improve its finances in preparation for a potential sale to private interests of the public utility. Protesters accused Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Detroit's undemocrat- ically appointed emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, of scheming to sell off pieces of the vulnerable city in a firesale to corporations. As a testament to the power of collective action, Detroit announced a couple days after the march that it would enact a mora- torium on shutoffs for 15 days, and later extended that date to Aug. 25. Jean Ross, RN, co-president of National Nurses United, the lead sponsor of the action, delivered a declaration calling the city of Detroit a public health emergency zone. "Water is life sustaining. Lack of water directly undermines the health and safety of Detroit residents, and their families," read Ross from the declaration. "We demand the guarantee that all Detroit residents have immediate and full access to clean water." Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo joined the march, encouraging the crowd to "fight for your rights, water is a human right." Michigan Nurses Association President John Armelagos, RN, noted that "Detroit is not bankrupt. Denying water is [the] sign of a bankrupt system. Only a bankrupt system would encourage predatory subprime mort- gages that lead to the foreclosures of over 100,000 homes in this city and deny oppor- tunities for work when so much is needed in this city. This city, state, and nation must engage in policies that promote prosperity and recovery." "Privatization of water has already start- ed harming Michiganders," said We the People of Detroit Founder Monica Lewis- Patrick. "This issue is beyond Detroit. Detroit is the tip of the spear. It's not about one thing. It's about everything. As goes Detroit, so goes Michigan and so goes the nation. Stop the privatization. Restore the water." Valerie Blakely, a community organizer from the North End neighborhood of Detroit who attended the march, said she narrowly averted having her water shut off just days before. She happened to be up in the early morning making coffee and spot- ted a truck outside her house. Blakely, who is about $1,000 behind on her bill, rushed out to stop them. The workers then proceed- ed to shut off water to every one of Blakely's neighbors. "Boom, boom, boom," said Blakely. "I'm pleading with them, 'You're shutting off an elderly woman's water. She won't be able to flush her toilet. You're shutting off the water of a woman with five children." They didn't even knock on the door. Without this [march as a] show of support, we wouldn't stand a chance to really fight and resist this issue. This show of unity, to have nurses here, to say, hey this is a public health emer- gency…is epically important." —Staff report Water, like healthcare, is a human right, say RNs NEWS BRIEFS

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