Kathleen Gray

Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

FLINT — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders gave Flint residents the chance to vent their anger and frustration about how they’ve been affected by contamination of the city’s water supply, with lead leaching from pipes.

For about an hour, the Woodside Church, where the forum was held, transformed on a snowy Thursday afternoon from a place of worship to a political gathering spot.

“Day-to-day I see people who can’t even afford a ride to go and get water,” said Earl Logan of Flint. “And you’re charging us to drink death.”

Other residents talked about the need to remove and replace the lead service lines and pipes in the city, and yet others were angry with the state government for the response — or lack of response — to the crisis.

“What I want to know is why hasn’t our governor been arrested for poisoning us,” asked one man.

Sanders in Michigan talks economy, trade, environment

Sanders said he’s called on Gov. Rick Snyder to resign, but also said there is much more that needs to be done for both Flint and other cities across the nation.

“My hope is that the American people will look at Flint and say 'never again,'” Sanders said, adding the country needs to invest $1 trillion into improving the country’s transportation and water infrastructure. “And while Flint may be the canary in the coal mine, there are a whole lot more canaries across the country.”

Unlike other Sanders’ campaign events — last week, 9,000 supporters crammed into the Convocation Center at Eastern Michigan University — the Flint forum attracted about 300 people and Sanders did very little talking. Instead, this event was about the residents. Sanders let them talk about what problems they have been facing since the city, which was under the authority of a state-appointed emergency manager, switched from Lake Huron water provided by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the more corrosive Flint River.

It was about Nakiya Wakes' 7-year-old-son, Jaylon Tyson, who has high lead levels in his blood and has been suspended from school 56 times this year. She attributes his behavioral problems to the lead.

It was also about Paula McGee of Flint and her frustration with the emergency manager law, which allowed the state to take control of the city. And the fact that the governor and Legislature are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act, which requires the disclosure of public documents.

"This water is brown, they continue to ignore it. We’d like to make sure if our governor can appoint an emergency manager, he should have an emergency manager over him, too," she said..

Sanders also talked about the income inequality and poverty that stresses the city's residents.

Valyncia Merriweather, 31, said she first became aware of Sanders in 2010 and was attracted to his socialist message.

"I was in college at the time and the cost was just outrageous, even if you’re in community college or a public university," the Farmington Hills resident said. "But now that I’m a mother and a wife and out working in the world, it’s all about income inequality. I just think it’s gross what we’re seeing today."

For Kaylee Fagan, 21, of Flint, who went out in the snowstorm Wednesday night to get supplies to make a Sanders mask and posters, campaign-finance reform has drawn her to Sanders.

"I think it’s great that he wants to get big money out of politics," she said. "That’s huge because I think there are a lot of people who have given up on our political system because they think it’s so corrupt."

Fagan lives on the outer edge of Flint, so she hasn't had to deal with the lead-contaminated water. But she said she's glad that it's getting the attention it deserves.

"It’s still super, super sad to see the effect it’s taken on our community," she said.

If Sanders doesn't win the Democratic nomination for president, Fagan said she thought about writing Sanders in on her November ballot.

"But I don't want to split the vote and give the White House to a Republican," she said. "If it comes down to that, I would probably vote for Hillary."

Hillary Clinton: What happened in Flint is immoral

Sanders' Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has been hammering on the Flint water issue for more than a month in interviews, debates and during a visit to Flint this month. She also just started airing an ad that includes footage from her visit to Flint interspersed with shots of Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, a Flint pastor and a resident applauding her efforts. Her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, has also visited Flint in recent weeks.

Both Sanders and Clinton have opened multiple offices in Michigan, including campaign offices in Flint, and have paid staffers on the ground in the state. Clinton has raised more money in Michigan,according to records from the Federal Election Commission, but Sanders has more contributors. Clinton has collected $1,174,906 from more than 3,900 Michiganders, while Sanders has raised $504,517 from more than 7,500 state residents.

Chelsea Clinton: Flint crisis deserves 'moral urgency'

The Michigan Republican Party, which has been highly critical of Clinton for her focus on Flint, added Sanders to that list, too.

“Flint needs solutions and resources, which lawmakers in Michigan have worked in a bipartisan fashion to approve. We welcome anyone who wants to be part of that solution," said Michigan Republican Party chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel. "What we don’t need is more politicking. Politicizing this issue does nothing to help the families and residents affected by this crisis. Senator Sanders should focus on solutions instead of trying to play political catch-up with Hillary Clinton on this issue.”

Contact Kathleen Gray: 517-372-8661, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal