Page 10 - My FlipBook
P. 10

Community Organizing

                               across the Decades



                 The tradition of community organizing in Flint is long, storied,
                 and rich. In 1936 and 1937, striking laborers at Flint’s GM
                  plant won a major victory for workers’ rights. For 2 months,
                  workers sat in one of the buildings and refused to leave. This

                  strike empowered the United Auto Workers (UAW) union.
                  The strike led to a 5 percent raise for workers and the right
                  to collectively bargain with employers. Union membership
                  in the United States ballooned as a result of the win.

                     Later, during the civil rights movement, Flint activists paved
                  the way for equal housing rights. A “sleep-in” in August 1967
                  drew hundreds who demanded an end to racial discrimination
                  in housing. Activist efforts continued. The next spring, voters in

                  the city approved an open housing referendum. This opened
                  up neighborhoods and housing to Black families. It was the
                  first place in the country to make housing segregation illegal.
                     This civic tradition continued into the 21st century. When

                  control of the city was turned over to an emergency manager,
                  the Flint Democracy Defense League formed. And when the water
                  crisis surfaced, these activists stood up and helped when the
                  government failed, distributing bottled water to residents in need.











                                                                                            13
                                       [  FLINT WA TER CRISIS ]
   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15