DeAndre Levy

Special to the Detroit Free Press

Two years ago, I learned of two organizations, We the People of Detroit and the Detroit Water Brigade, both focused on assisting Detroiters who were facing water shutoffs around the city. Unfortunately, it’s an issue that still persists in Detroit today.

Another water issue in the state of Michigan is just 70 miles up I-75 in Flint. It has been a year since Flint’s mayor, Karen Weaver, declared a state of emergency in the city, and much longer than that since Flint residents started sounding the alarm that their water was contaminated.

Earlier this year we saw public support through millions of dollars of donations, truckloads of bottled water being shipped, and expressed outrage on social media that Americans would have to live under such conditions. The frequency of headlines has fizzled some, but the issue remains: Many residents still don’t have access to clean drinking water. Still.

►More: Flint water crisis coverage

►Related: Lions at Giants scouting report, prediction

Just this week, a federal appeals court forced the hand of Michigan officials to better assist Flint residents by denying the state’s request to be absolved from delivering bottled water door-to-door to residents.

It’s great that the federal appeals court ruled this way, but why is this something that has to be enforced? Why isn’t the state of Michigan willingly stepping up to the full strength of its power for its residents? Is clean drinking water not a human right?

It’s a scientific fact that lead contamination can have adverse effects on an individual’s health. Given that fact and what seems to be the state’s reluctance to step up, what is being said about the value of Flint lives? The people who are there today, and the children who will grow into adults that have been affected? Do they not matter?

We the people of Michigan, including the state’s officials, must do better. Starting with basic human rights like clean drinking water. Thank goodness for activists in Flint on the front line who continue to beat the drum on this, and people like Rasheed Wallace who continues to use his voice and platform to shed light, and organizations like the ACLU of Michigan that continue to hold the state accountable.

But, we should all be outraged. Still.

►Levy: Tough final month gives Lions chance to earn our position

►Lions' film review: DeAndre Levy was solid in return to action

Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!