The Standing Rock Sioux and the activists protecting the Missouri River in North Dakota from the access pipeline won a victory earlier this week when the Army Corps of engineers denied an easement for the pipeline. It will now have to be rerouted around the river, and while the Sioux are optimistic it’s unclear whether the easement will be sustained under Trump or whether the companies in charge of the pipeline will comply with the order. (They have vowed not to.) Although many people will stick around to guard the river, some activists are leaving the encampment and just in time to avoid the even harsher winter conditions in the area. They have plenty of donated supplies, including a bunch of bottled water they no longer need. They’re planning on donating it to Flint, Michigan where residents are still despicably without clean running water in their homes. Musician Dave Matthews is among the activists traveling from Standing Rock to Flint to donate the water and help bring awareness to the ongoing water crisis there:
Musician Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band says he is ready to come to Flint to help out with water crisis efforts with North Dakota activist.
Matthews who was in North Dakota supporting the water protectors as they fought against a pipeline project to run under a lake near a Native American reservation said he is working with a group to bring bottled water to Flint.
“The case of Flint and the case here in Standing Rock is a real problem that doesn’t fit the narrative of what big media is,” said Matthews. “It fails because it doesn’t make people feel good. It’s irresponsible journalism. It’s irresponsible leadership because it affects all of us.”
The North Dakota pipeline battle may be over but veterans and community activists supporting the opposition of the project say their fight isn’t finished and the Flint water crisis is next on their list.
Matthews said he along with a group of people from North Dakota started hashing out details on Dec. 3 as to what to do with bottled water donations sent to Standing Rock.
With this weekend’s end to the Standing Rock standoff, Matthews and his group are working on getting trucks to load up water to bring to Flint.
“You don’t hear about Flint anymore but they didn’t clean up those pipes,” said Matthews. “The problem is still here.”
The Flint water crisis gained national attention January 2016. Residents had struggled with water issues including boil advisory alerts after the city switched from using Detroit for their water system in 2014 to tap into the Flint River for Flint’s water supply…
“In my opinion it’s unforgivable,” said Matthews of both the Flint water crisis and the North Dakota pipeline fight. “It’s shameful to show in a county that has so much that there can be people disregarded because of their place or there situation because of their lack of access. It’s shameful. It’s terrible.”
It’s shocking and sad that people in Flint are still dealing with this terrible hardship. But how fitting that the water protectors in Standing Rock are helping out the water victims in Flint. We’ve seen Shailene Woodley, Mark Ruffalo, Jane Fonda and Susan Sarandon lend their celebrity to Standing Rock and that’s important because it helps these important causes get more coverage. Who will join the people of Flint to stand in solidarity with them? Dave Matthews is a good start, but I’d like to hear about some other big names there too.
Ooh I didn’t know Ben and Jerrys was a sponsor! This is the perfect excuse to get a pint of salted caramel core.
photos credit: WENN and Fame
Yum.
Agreed. Yum.
YES YES YES YES
YES!!!!!❤️
Bigger star? Celebitchy I am disappointed! Dave Matthews is huge! Touring 25 years every year to sold out venues! (Venues where he also has people registering folks to vote) I am a mega, mega fan so I am biased and I love Dave! Him and the band truly do walk the walk and put their money where their mouth is. They have many charities in Charlottesville, the Gulf shores and now did a concert benefitting ND and the issue with the pipeline. So proud to be a fan of him and his music! DMB forever! Live on, firedancer!
Ha sorry Ostone! How about some “other big names”? I’ll rephrase that!
“Ooh I didn’t know Ben and Jerrys was a sponsor! This is the perfect excuse to get a pint of salted caramel core.”
They also called out Trump (will always be difficult to type that name) with that adorable ad campaign last month. (“We taste sweeter together!”) And their vegan ice cream satisfies every craving (although they’re not the only reason that old “but I love ice cream” excuse rings hollow these days). They’re good people.
The 90’s college student in me will always, always love Dave Matthews. And the current day me hears stories like this, and like the one about helping raise his sister’s children (if I’m not mistaken, she died at the hands of her husband), and the current me loves him too.
Same here, Pansy!!
Love this so much. This is how we save the world- protecting and helping each other.
One of my all-time favorite musicians. I’ve been to two of his concerts and was totally blown away. He’s an amazing performer.
I got to meet him once by chance in Charlottesville and he seems like a genuinely nice person. DMB may not be “big” stars anymore but they are reliable stars and great musicians. Glad he is still doing good.
I f’ing love Dave. Always have and always will. Amazing musician, and all-around good human being. Good on him! On a side note: Mmm. Dave is yummy.
I love Dave, Tim and the band so much! I may be biased because my husband and I are superfans (16+ shows and counting!) but they really put their money and time where their mouth is. They do so much with registering people to vote at their shows, Farm Aid, and so much more. So glad they are using their celebrity to bring attention to Standing Rock and Flint!
While I like that they are helping the people in Flint, Michigan, many water protectors are not leaving. I hope that they have enough water as well.
ETP hasn’t stopped construction on the pipeline. They have said that they won’t reroute, and they’ll just pay the paltry fine levied each day. I truly don’t understand why the police aren’t stopping them like they stopped the water protectors. Why isn’t there concertina wire blocking the area where the company wants to drill?
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only fight against a pipeline. There’s currently one happening in Florida as well, and some of the Republican Congress members have vowed to take Indian land which is rich in oil. This is not over by a long shot.
Exactly Jag. The DAPL is not stopping, the law enforcement has not removed the big bright lights they shine onto the camp all night long, the razor sharp wire is still in place, the access over the bridge onto Hwy 1806 is still blocked (and forces the protectors to travel an hour and a half when seeking medical attention. If the bridge was not blocked it would take less than 20 minutes.), helicopters are still flying low over the camp at night to disrupt the sleep of those in the camp, water protectors are being denied when trying to buy supplies in town (these are life saving supplies for winter readiness), water protectors are getting their car windows smashed and tires slashed when they do venture into that racist POS town, and yet, the water protectors stay.
If the DAPL is rerouted it still will put the drinking water for over 17 million people at risk. Although I’m thankful for these stars and their support, the water protectors and the river, the Mini Wiconi, is still at risk.
This is exactly what the whole world needs, Everyday. I have been following Dave Matthews and the band for at least two decades. They have earned their place as un-equalled superstars in their musical genre. And they alone stand in that echelon, which only they alone know the depths and struggles it took to achieve that. Beyond any words or kudos that we as the public and fans can give them, they do the RIGHT thing. They have the ways and means to contribute. Help where you can,Everyday.