Flint's water crisis, emergency manager law topics in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 11/9
Michael Moore greets Flint's Pastor Jeffrey Hawkins and his wife April Cook-Hawkins at the premiere of Fahrenheit 11/9 in Toronto. (Courtesy Photo)
Arts & CultureFlint Water Crisis
By Jiquanda Johnson	 Last updated Sep 10, 2018
FLINT, MI — As Flint-area residents prepare for the premiere of Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 11/9 at The Whiting tonight at 7 p.m., resident and activist April Cook-Hawkins readies herself to answer questions as the movie rolls out something most Flint residents probably didn't know.
Cook-Hawkins says she is currently seeking legal action against the Genesee County Health Department after officials allegedly asked her to falsify lead results, lost blood samples and paperwork.
"I wanted to let the residents know, but I didn't know how to do it," Cook-Hawkins said. "I wanted to make sure I took the correct steps so I could stay secure and assist the best way I can."
Flint Beat could not immediately reach Genesee County Health officials for comment.
For nearly six months, Cook-Hawkins said she worked for the county. During that time she claims she was asked to enter low blood lead results taken from Flint residents that were high and she witnessed the poor management and loss of blood samples and paperwork.
"The movie shows how I worked for the governmental part of it and how they use you to manipulate the community," said Cook-Hawkins who worked for the Health Department from October 2015 to May 2016. "It came down to either you're in with us, or you get out of the situation. I chose to get out of the situation and resign. I didn't want the blood on my hands."
Moore's movie is an examination of government and how it impacts areas like Flint. He explores not just Flint's lead crisis but also talks about Michigan's emergency manager law.
"The trailer does not do it justice," Cook-Hawkins said. "It's really going to be good for the community," Cook-Hawkins, who was at the film's debut in Canada last week. "The community is going to be like thank you. It showcases how they just use different areas like our area, like Flint, to do whatever they want to do (with) no consideration for the community."
MSNBC will also host a panel discussion on the movie at Factory Two located at 129 N. Grand Traverse in Flint from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2018. The program will fill the show's one-hour time slot on Wednesday, Sept. 12 from 8 to 9 p.m.
The Sept. 11 event is first come first serve. Tickets can be found here.
Jiquanda Johnson
Flint Beat's founder and publisher, Jiquanda Johnson is a Flint-area native with more than 16 years of experience in journalism including print, television and digital media. She has worked for The Detroit News, NBC25, Fox and MLive Media Group/The Flint Journal, where she covered the city of Flint.
As a reporter covering Flint for MLive, Jiquanda discovered that the community needed a news publication focused only on Flint, Mich. Flint Beat was launched on March 13, 2017 to fill that need.
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Tonya Burns says 10 months ago
This is a very well written and informative article. It's beyond disappointing that the County would allegedly falsify documents especially when it came to "High Toxic Blood Levels" pertaining to the Flint Water Crisis.
Great job reporting on this ongoing saga.
Maybe one day Flint will get Justice
sherri cross says 8 months ago
I wish he would stop saying he's from Flint,Mi because he isn't is is from Davison, Mi 10 miles east of Flint. he has worked in Flint, even did a radio at the studio where I do a show. He could care less about us here in Flint. For him it's his fame and glory and politics. We still have a water crisis and there are many people who have a hard time trying to get free bottled water. 4 years now we haven't been able to bathe, drink, or cook with our city water, we gave up asking how much longer….even if we were told, we wouldn't believe them! We've been lied to for too many years now, people have died, women have lost their pregnancies and Flint Kids have lead in their blood!