Written by Tanya Terry
On Sunday, June 1, marchers who said they were fed up with the city’s government and the fact they are still waiting for compensation from the Flint Water Crisis settlement assembled outside of Flint City Hall. They then marched on the sidewalk along Saginaw Street, headed towards West Dayton Street and Civic Park with signs that said “Bottled water and bottled lies” and many other signs. They also were carrying a casket as protesters did on May 5, calling it “Flint’s funeral” to symbolize the city’s decline under the current leadership, as seen by some citizens.
Jedidiah Brown is said to be leading the marches by many sources, including city officials. He sued the Flint Police Chief Terence Green in April after he was removed from a city council meeting. According to the Flint Police Department, Brown was jailed on a two charges of alleged disorderly conduct related to the May protest, which took place in front of Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s home.
Brown said a June protest will be peaceful and would take place in front of the mayor’s home, which many considered extreme.
However, Flint Police said the June 1 protest was unauthorized and that marchers violated traffic laws.
Video footage is circulating social media of a 71-year-old Flint man who was in a vehicle with 3rd Ward City Council Candidate Beverly Biggs-Leavy being pulled out of the vehicle and taken to the ground by police.
Additionally, video footage was provided of the man on the ground, identified as Biggs-Leavy’s husband, to the Flint Courier News by the Lento Law Group. At the end of the video, Council Candidate Biggs-Leavy is seen saying “When they pulled him out the car, the car was still in drive…Now he’s going to impound it.”
Mr. Leavy was arrested and given a citation for with interfering with, resisting or assaulting a police officer during an arrest.
Claire McClinton, a UAW retiree who is a member of the Democracy Defense League of Flint social justice organization, said to the Courier: “It’s very disheartening the way the City treats and has treated the residents. Today just captured what’s been the ugly momentum even from the city council meetings spilling out into this peaceful demonstration.”
McClinton noted she had been part of a protest in which Flint residents took a casket to Lansing, which she regarded as a right.
McClinton added of Flint: “We don’t want to be the leader of resident suppression, citizen suppression. We’re not that. We’ ve been the leaders in social justice, and we’re going backwards.”
The Lento Law Group issued the following statement regarding the June 1 march in Flint:
“The Lento Law Group is disgusted by the actions of members of law enforcement today toward peaceful marchers, including some of our clients and staff. Videos of the incidents show what we believe to be clear violations of participants’ civil rights. We appreciate the work law enforcement officers do to keep citizens safe, but we plan to hold legally accountable those who we believe acted unlawfully.”
A statement from the Flint Police Department stated: “During the incident, several individuals participating in the protest proceeded northbound on Saginaw Street, accompanied by multiple vehicles. These vehicles impeded the regular flow of traffic, creating hazards for motorists and pedestrians alike. Police officers made multiple announcements to protest participants, urging them to maintain traffic safety and obey traffic signals to prevent injury and ensure public safety.
“Despite clear and repeated police instructions, some protestors and associated vehicles continued to block traffic. This activity constitutes a violation of local laws and endangers the safety of all residents and visitors in the downtown area.
“In response, the Flint Police Department utilized fully marked patrol vehicles with emergency lights activated to stop several violator vehicles. Officers issued citations to the drivers involved and towed vehicles that were in violation of traffic laws.
The Flint Police Department said it “remains committed to maintaining law and order, ensuring the safety of all residents, and protecting the integrity of the City of Flint.” The statement then said the department wanted to “remind all citizens that lawful assembly must adhere to regulations designed to ensure public safety.”
