The Committee Against Utility Shutoffs holds demonstration in Detroit

The Committee Against Utility Shutoffs held a demonstration on March 12 to demand an end to utility shutoffs and insist that heat and lights are social rights.

The march, involving about 100 people, began at 8011 Dexter Avenue, the scene of a January 5, 2010 fire that took the lives of three people: Marvin Allen, 62; Tyrone Allen, 61; and Lynn Greer, 58. It ended at a meeting at the Dexter-Elmhurst center.

Lawrence Porter, chairman of CAUS, opened the event with a speech outlining the program of the demonstration. The event culminated at a public meeting that included comments and contributions from the participants.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• CAUS
• House Fires
• DTE
• Bing
• Socialism
• Rights
• Equality

[SEPupload]

Attend the SEP/WSWS conference on April 9-10! Google "2011 Conference fight for socialism today"

[ZakeD3]

I did say "any work." This is Detroit, half the residents are unemployed or underemployed. It's just not that simple. AND, THAWs funds are depleted.

[jodimschmidt1]

@ZakeD3 The taxpayers are ALREADY providing for the people without 'well paying jobs'. BTW, if I had no heat, I would take ANY job, not just a 'well paying' one. AND, there are already programs in place (see 'THAW' for one) to keep residents heat on during the winter.

[MrIskander09]

its my right to carry my semi-auto shotgun around for protection!!!!!

[jslassahn]

This video deserves to be spread widely; it shows a model, and perhaps an inspiration, for workers around the world.

[zzsharka]

@StrikeTeam491 Obama doesn't run the country, Big Business does. If he doesn't comply with major corporations he gets assassinated.

[TheGirlwithcamera]

Wow! This video is amazing. Thanks to whoever put it together!

[StrikeTeam491]

I thought that Obama was going to pay all your bills... What happened with that???

[ZakeD3]

@jodimschmidt1

There is also no incentive to work if there isn't any work in the first place. If we had an economy capable of providing everyone with a well paying job then this wouldn't be an issue because people could actually afford to heat their homes.

[mattandersonWSWS]

@jodimschmidt1 The energy company, DTE, supported by the Democrats and the Republicans, charges criminal rates for electricity - a social right which is clearly necessary to live in modern society. DTE is like the robber barons of days gone by - profiteering on the backs of human misery...Do you expect people who's utilities have been shutoff to sit at home and freeze? They desperately try to heat their homes and protect their families, and you call this "human misuse of heaters"?