Rick Snyder, the former Gov. of Michigan who served between 2011 and 2018, is facing charges for his role in the Flint, Michigan water crisis that occurred in 2014. This will be the first time in the history of Michigan politics that a governor has been charged with a crime committed during their time in office, according to AP.
On Wednesday, the former Gov. was charged with “willful neglect of duty,” and faces a $1,000 fine and up to one year in prison. Many Black residences were impacted by the Flint city and Michigan state political authorities’ decision to run a toxic pipeline through Flint River, resulting in lead-contaminated water pouring into the sinks and tubs of homeowners.
An investigation revealed that the water was not treated and that lead was being leaked — something that was ignored by state officials, despite residents making public pleas and showing the world cloudy water in their tubs and drinking bottles.
It wasn’t until 2016 when a doctor revealed the impact on children, in which some ended up with chronic and terminal illnesses, that Snyder decided to do something about the issue. The fallout involved several terminations, convictions and a national conversation on racism, a leading factor for the dismissive inaction and lagging empathy for those who were impacted in the predominately Black community.
In response to the alarmingly environmental disaster, the state of Michigan ordered its largest settlement in history in the amount of $600 million to compensate up to 12,000 victims.
