Injustice Before Our Eyes: Jackson, Mississippi Does Not Have Reliable Running Water

Injustice Before Our Eyes: Jackson, Mississippi Does Not Have Reliable Running Water belatina latine

The beloved Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – and these words continue to ring true to this day. 

In a perfect world, justice would prevail and equality and equity would be celebrated. However, everything that surrounds us is imperfect at best. 

Let’s take a look at the residents of Jackson, Mississippi, for instance. 

A few days ago they woke up to a water crisis. From one day to another, they were left without access to safe running water.

“Until it is fixed, it means we do not have reliable running water at scale,” Reeves said. “It means the city cannot produce enough water to fight fires, to reliably flush toilets, and to meet other critical needs,” Gov. Tate Reeves said at a recent press conference.

The issues with their water supply didn’t just begin though. It’s been going on for years. A vast majority of Jackson lost water during a winter storm in 2021 and in the past month, they didn’t have access to drinking water, which was prompted by a recent flood. 

Jackson, Mississippi, has over 160,000 residents. This city, which is the largest in Mississippi, is predominantly inhabited by the Black community. 

This is not the first time the United States has experienced a water crisis. Flint, Michigan dealt with lead contamination in their water supply for two entire years. Although their water is now considered safe, there’s still plenty of skepticism about whether it’s truly nontoxic. Flint’s population is mainly Black as well.

The failure of their water system is not news to them or the government. However, they weren’t quick enough to fix an aging water system, even though it was brought up in the past. 

Now, thousands of Jackson residents are trying to navigate life with little to no water pressure. People’s livelihoods are being affected by this; kids haven’t been able to attend school either. 

Officials can’t confirm when safe, reliable service will be restored.

For Image credit or remove please email for immediate removal - info@belatina.com