EPA launches civil rights investigation into Jackson' s water crisis Usat Video - Ms Content Sharing HEAD TOPICS
EPA launches civil rights investigation into Jackson' s water crisis
10/21/2022 4:30:00 PM The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against Jackson over its water crisis
Usat Video Ms Content Sharing
Source USA TODAY
'We believe we gave compelling evidence that the state of Mississippi intentionally starved the city of Jackson of the resources to maintain its water infrastructure,' NAACP President Derrick Johnson said. The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against Jackson over its water crisis Associated PressHide CaptionExperts, residents see racism as root of Jackson water crisisThe water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, is far from over, although the city has restored pressure throughout much of the city. That's because residents say that even though water is coming out of their taps, in many cases it smells like raw sewage and is cloudy or discolored. (Sept. 16) (AP Video: Stephen Smith) APJACKSON, Miss. — The federal government is investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against the state's majority-Black capital city by refusing to fund improvements for its failing water system, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday. Read more:
USA TODAY » EPA launches civil rights investigation into Mississippi over Jackson water crisis EPA launches civil rights investigation into Jackson, Mississippi, water crisis EPA launches civil rights investigation into Mississippi over Jackson water crisis EPA opens civil rights investigation into state's role over Jackson water system Into America
Into America is a show about being Black in America. These stories explore what it means to hold truth to power and this country to its promises. Told by people who have the most at stake. Read more >> “WYPIPO DID IT!” -Jackson why would any one believe a USA today peice? Try paying for pump maintenance next time instead of paying off political cronies. Maybe Jackson should’ve launched some missiles into Ukraine to get unlimited funding Beliefs are not facts. Maybe find how the money that did flow into the city didn’t ensure clean flow of water. Aren’t you surprised to see everyone is silent on this? I'll file this under 'biased person says a thing.' Did the Mayor do more? EPA launches civil rights investigation into Mississippi over Jackson water crisisThe EPA announced it will open a federal civil rights investigation looking at Mississippi's use of federal funds in Jackson and if the majority Black residents were discriminated against by not funding improvements to the water supply. Awesome historic flooding in Mississippi severely damaged a major pump at the main water treatment facility in Jackson .... THOSE GOD DAMN RACISTS STRIKE AGAIN!!! BrettFavre EPA launches civil rights investigation into Jackson, Mississippi, water crisisThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that it is investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against the state's majority-Black capital city by refusing to fund improvements for its failing water system. Systematic racism; racism at EVERY level. Took them long enough geez EPA launches civil rights investigation into Mississippi over Jackson water crisisThe Environmental Protection Agency will open a new federal civil rights investigation looking at Mississippi's use of federal funds in Jackson. EPA opens civil rights investigation into state's role over Jackson water systemThe Environmental Protection Agency wrote in a letter Thursday that it is opening a civil rights investigation into the state of Mississippi’s role in the breakdown of Jackson’s water system. Follow the money or lack of money. EPA investigating Jackson, Mississippi water crisis as civil rights discrimination case“We believe we gave compelling evidence that the state of Mississippi intentionally starved the city of Jackson of the resources to maintain its water infrastructure,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who lives in Jackson, Mississippi. Emily Wagster Pettus, Matthew Daly and Aaron Morrison Associated Press Hide Caption Experts, residents see racism as root of Jackson water crisis The water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, is far from over, although the city has restored pressure throughout much of the city.The EPA will investigate if state officials discriminated on the basis of race.By the time Reeves issued the emergency order, Jackson residents had already been told for a month to boil their water before to kill possible contaminants.By via Friday, October 21, 2022 3:30AM Seresa McCaskill cleans and refills buckets of water in her front yard in South Jackson, Miss. That's because residents say that even though water is coming out of their taps, in many cases it smells like raw sewage and is cloudy or discolored. (Sept., Aug. 16) (AP Video: Stephen Smith) AP JACKSON, Miss. Joshua Lott/The Washington Post/Getty Images NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who lives in Jackson with his family, called the EPA investigation a step in the right direction after years of the state withholding federal funds needed to avert the city's water system. — The federal government is investigating whether Mississippi state agencies discriminated against the state's majority-Black capital city by refusing to fund improvements for its failing water system, the U. The Washington Post via Getty Images The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it will open a federal civil rights investigation looking at Mississippi's use of federal funds in Jackson and if the majority Black residents were discriminated against by not funding improvements to the water supply.S." In August, historic flooding in Mississippi severely damaged a major pump at the main water treatment facility in Jackson, leaving about 150,000 of the city's mostly Black residents without drinkable water. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday." Members of Progressive Morningstar Baptist Church direct people to get bottled water following a Sunday morning service in Jackson, Miss." Johnson was named among several resident complainants in the NAACP's civil rights complaint against Mississippi. The announcement came days after leaders of two congressional committees said they were starting a joint investigation into a crisis that left most homes and businesses in Jackson without running water for several days in late August and early September. The EPA gave The Associated Press the first confirmation that it is conducting a civil, not criminal, investigation of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Mississippi State Department of Health. 4, 2022. The federal agency could withhold money from the state if it finds wrongdoing — potentially millions of dollars."Unfortunately, we live in a state that is still dealing in racial politics. If the state agencies don't cooperate with the investigation, the EPA could refer the case to the Department of Justice. Jackson is 82. Census Bureau. Heavy rainfall in late August exacerbated problems at Jackson's main water treatment facility. Republican Gov.2 % of residents, according to the U. Tate Reeves declared an emergency Aug. 29, and the state health department and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency have been overseeing operations and repairs at the facility since then. Census Bureau. About 80% of Jackson's 150,000 residents are Black, and about a quarter of the population lives in poverty. NAACP and its partners will continue to press the Biden Administration and Congress to hold state officials accountable and ensure that Jackson officials and residents are active participants in the decision-making that will be required to fix the unacceptable problems with Jackson's water," Johnson said in a statement. By the time Reeves issued the emergency order, Jackson residents had already been told for a month to boil their water to kill possible contaminants." The NAACP in its complaint claim that state officials held a "decades-long pattern and practice of discriminating against the city of Jackson when it comes to providing federal funds to improve local water systems," according to a statement on Thursday. Volunteers and the National Guard had distributed millions of bottles of drinking water. Although the boil-water notice was lifted in mid-September, many residents remain skeptical about water safety. "This action is only the first step. PREVIOUSLY: Flooding broke open Jackson's water crisis, but it can't be disentangled from race, experts say NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who lives in Jackson with his family, called the EPA investigation a step in the right direction after years of the state withholding federal funds needed to improve the city's water system. "We believe we gave compelling evidence that the state of Mississippi intentionally starved the city of Jackson of the resources to maintain its water infrastructure," Johnson told The AP on Thursday. Seresa McCaskill cleans and refills buckets of water in her front yard in South Jackson, Miss. Copyright © 2022 ABC News Internet Ventures. "We want the EPA and this administration to put forth a course of action to prevent the state of Mississippi from ever doing this again." Johnson was named among several residents in the NAACP's civil rights complaint against Mississippi. 31, 2022. He said the state's inaction and record of divestment in Jackson amounts to"systemic neglect." "We believe that all citizens of this country should be entitled to clean, fresh drinking water," Johnson said. "The Mississippi State Department of Health is a regulatory agency that ensures compliance, offers education and guidance, and protects the public health safety of all Mississippians," Sharlot said."Unfortunately, we live in a state that is still dealing in racial politics. And as a result of that, you have state leaders who seek to penalize African American residents of the city of Jackson in a very discriminatory way. ABC's Teddy Grant contributed to this story." The AP reported in September that years before Reeves became governor, he touted his own track record of fiscal conservatism by citing his opposition to spending state money for Jackson's crumbling water and sewer infrastructure. The EPA is not investigating Reeves. Reeves said Thursday that the state took control of Jackson's water system because of"absolute and total incompetence" of the city's Democratic mayor and administration. The governor's latest remarks are an escalation of a dispute between him and Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba over whether the state or the city will decide on a private firm to operate Jackson's water system. LATEST FROM JACKSON: .