Tonight the Detroit Light Brigade and
DCATS (Detroit Coalition Against Tar Sands) will be holding a candlelight vigil at the old train station in Detroit. There will be performing talent, speakers and discussion.
On Thursday July 10th from 8:30 pm – 9:45 pm, folks from Detroit and all across SE Michigan will come together to “shed light” on the unjust water shut-offs in Detroit and stand alongside vigils and actions happening all across North America this week for the 1 year anniversary of the oil train derailment in Lac-Megantic . The same explosive Bakken oil trains are heading to MI and refineries in Detroit in the next few years unless we the people say otherwise.
Lac-Megantic’s struggle is a grim reminder to us all: Big Oil will stop at nothing to extract, transport, and burn every drop of oil in the ground. No matter the risk, no matter the cost to public health, safety, and the climate, the oil industry will jump at every opportunity to profit.
We will also hear updates from activists working on the #WaterShutoffs targeting 40% of households within Detroit. Its more than a situation of not paying a bill. The plans of the city are to transform areas of the city through the Detroit Future City plan. This plan is to reduce infrastructure through new zoning ordinances that would allow lots to be severed from city services, such as water, gas, public lighting, and more. Therefore if water shutoffs provide the ground for the city to grab hold of property through tax liens on delinquent water bills then evictions can be enacted, houses demolished, and displaced residents cast without concern.
This event is in solidarity with residents in Lac-Megantic, and being organized alongside grassroots activists across North America, and with ForestEthics, MI-CATS, 350.org, Oil Change International and the Sierra Club.