Target: Tate Reeves, Governor of Mississippi
Goal: Devote much needed resources to Jackson University students amidst ongoing water crisis.
One week into the schoolyear, thousands of students at Jackson University in Mississippi are being sent home, or forced to cope with particularly difficult on-campus adjustments–and this time, it isn’t because of Covid-19. The city of Jackson, Mississippi has long faced a water crisis, which has only been escalated by recent flooding and torrential rains.
This water crisis is causing major disruption to students’ learning and academic performances, as most classes have now switched to virtual sessions. Not to mention, it is causing major inconveniences to students at the historically Black University–as well as residents of the city itself–who are forced to manage without access to running tap, flushing toilets, or working showers. Many are pointing towards environmental racism as one of the lead causes of the ongoing water issues and the lack of resources made available to properly address them. According to census data, an overwhelming majority of the city identifies as Black or African American.
Sign this petition to demand that funds and resources are allocated towards fixing the current problems plaguing the water system of Jackson, Mississippi.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Governor Reeves,
The city of Jackson is in the midst of an ongoing crisis. Residents all across the city are being forced to adapt their daily lifestyles to accomodate not having any running water–not being able to shower, to flush toilets, to drink from the tap. This ongoing water issue–which has been made significantly worse by severe flooding and torrential rains, likely the effect of a rapidly changing climate–is even affecting student learning. Just after the nation was finally recovering from Covid-19, students at the historically Black Jackson University were sent home, and all their in-person classes are being transferred to online platforms.
Still, despite its longevity, the city has failed to adequately address this catastrophic water system problem. In a community that identifies as 82.5% Black or African American, there has been an apparent lack in resources available to help solve this very fixable problem.
We are asking you, Mr. Reeves, to devote necessary funding and resources to the city of Jackson, and end the city’s water crisis once and for all.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
823 Signatures