Protesters at payment centers object to service shut-offs

DETROIT, MI - DTE Energy, caught off guard by the 200 Good Jobs Now supporters who protested at two DTE payment centers on Friday, September 21, 2012, shut down the center at 17227 W. 7 Mile Road temporarily, and forced protesters away from the 9600 E. 8 Mile Road location.

The protesters—proudly chanting “Na na na na, Hey hey hey, Pay Your Share!”—felt vindicated by DTE’s reaction. The Good Jobs Now group had highlighted an inhumane shut-off policy and the energy giant’s reluctance to pay its fair share of taxes. The company has severed service to over 100,000 impoverished Detroit families over a two-year period.

“We got our message across that they need to pay their fair share,” said Ra’Mon Reed, a 30-year-old community activist from Detroit. “And we’re going to keep fighting until they do.”

Protesters also criticized DTE’s PAC support of Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. Johnson has continued to take actions that lead to voter suppression, despite Gov. Rick Snyder’s July 2012 veto of voter ID legislation. Illegally, there is a citizenship question on registration cards this fall.

“Everybody has the right to vote—we already have an ID established that says we’re American citizens,” said Bishop Walter L. Stargill, Jr., who is from the Face-to-Face Outreach Ministries in Inkster. “It’s just a further tactic to suppress the voice of the people, and the voice of the people is through the power of their vote.”

The energy conglomerate is undergoing public scrutiny for obtaining a tax refund of 6 percent over the last three years—despite hundreds of millions in profits—while steadily raising the bills of low-income Detroiters. On Friday, protesters made it clear they will continue to spread this message in support of America’s 99%.

"DTE is not paying its fair share of taxes while people in the community are struggling to pay their bills,” said Kyrion Howard of Detroit. “It's hard enough for a family to not be able to pay their bills, but to leave them with no gas and no lights isn't fair. I hope this protest grows so DTE will see how they are hurting families and stop shutting off their power."

ABOUT GOOD JOBS NOW
Launched in April 2011, Good Jobs Now is a broad coalition of community groups, faith leaders, concerned citizens and the labor section committed to holding decision makers and elected officials accountable for the lack of jobs, and to help find solutions. To contact Good Jobs Now, please email info@goodjobsnow.org.