People Over Politics: Michigan Militia Joins Michael Moore to Protest Flint Water CrisisBy Carey Wedler Moore, a Flint native who first gained notoriety for his his documentary on the towns economic hardships, hasspoken out against the state and local governments negligent handling of the disaster. The high volume of lead in public water supplies has contaminated childrens blood and led Flints mayor to declare a state of emergency. The crisis has drawn widespread attention and outrage. At a rally on January 16, Michael Moore said, I am standing in the middle of a crime scene. Ten people have been killed because of a decision to save money. The citys water supply was changed from Detroits water supply to the Flint River in 2014, in spite of the new sources reputation for being filled with contaminants like raw sewage and tires. As Anti-Media previously reported, The shift in supply was a result of failed procedures and negotiations to continue purchasing the water. Further, the states Department of Environmental Quality has admitted its failure in not requiring that non-corrosive additives be added to the water during treatment to counteract the lead that seeps into water from old pipes. Authorities at the state level reportedly belittled concerns from Flints local community about the quality of their water. The national EPA has also been criticized for its involvement (or lack thereof) in the water crisis. These examples of incompetence and corruption, along with the residents ongoing suffering, led Moore to speak out. Meanwhile, the Michigan militia, known as the Genesee County Volunteer Militia, has been working with the Red Cross to deliver clean water door-to-door, making stops that include a senior living facility and an elementary school. The Detroit Free Press reported that ina news release, the militia said, It is nothing less than shocking that our elected officials would try to hide the hazards that residents are being subjected to just by drinking a simple glass of tap water!!! Further, the group demanded more information from the government on who was involved in the cover-up. Details have emerged that suggest Governor Rick Snyder and his administrationignored warnings about the looming crisis and that Snyderhas since tried to hidethis prior knowledge. He released emails this week that were largelyredacted, and Michael Moore has called for his arrest. Themilitia is planning a rally for Sunday at 2pm at the City of Flint Municipal Center, and is workingwith Moore to ensure voices of dissent are continually heard. Were trying to coordinate so the protests dont stop, Dave McKellar, a member of the right-wingarmed force said. He owns a tree service business in Flint. McKellar expressed his willingness to work with More in spite of differences of opinion on other matters. We dont see eye-to-eye on many things, said McKellar. For him to step forward and say something good this time I agree with him. As McKellar said of the militia, What we are is a constitutional defense force. We protect people who cant protect themselves in time of disaster, be it man-made or other. Still, the militia has made it clear its focus is not on weapons, but on the crisis at hand. The group posted on Facebook about its upcoming Sunday protest, noting, We ask that you only wear side arms and not long rifles, this is not about our 2nd Amendment, this is about the infringement on the good people of Flint. The alliance between the militia and Michael Moore is admittedly unlikely. One of Moores most successful films, Bowling for Columbine, focused on the negative effects of guns in America, and the lefts reaction to the Oregon standoff including calls to drone strike the so-called domestic terrorists have highlighted contentious, long-running divisions between armed protest movements and liberal causes. Animosity between left and right in the United States has reached fever-pitch on countless issues, from healthcare to police brutality to the Syrian refugee crisis. Nevertheless, the two seemingly conflicting parties have placed the health of their fellow citizens above partisan hatred. Though they do not appear to have established a permanent relationship, Moore and the militias collaboration suggests that, perhaps, Americans can share a common cause. Indeed, a wide variety of groups have stepped up to help residents of Flint. In addition to MichaelMoore, the militia, and the Red Cross, an Islamic charity, local activists,and a Native American tribe have committed to helping the struggling community, along with countless Americans across the country. This article (People Over Politics: Michigan Militia Joins Michael Moore to Protest Flint Water Crisis) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under aCreative Commons license with attribution to Carey Wedler and theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. Image credit: Kai Schreiber. If you spot a typo, email edits@theantimedia.org. Go Mike! CDC mandates that insurance companies MUST pay for chelation for lead poisoning. In this case the administration is complicit. Oral DMSA [not DMSO] is FDA approved save for even children to remove lead. Why are they not distributing this to everyone immediately? 