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President Barack Obama
Win McNamee/Getty Images
President Barack Obama is headed to Flint, Mich., to speak to residents about the water-contamination crisis and receive an in-person briefing on federal efforts in place to assist the people, the White House announced Wednesday.
However, the announcement came in the most unusual way, with Obama responding to a letter from 8-year-old Mari Copeny, known around her town as “Little Miss Flint,” who first wrote to the president asking to meet him while on a trip to Washington, D.C.
Last month little Mari sent a letter to Obama detailing how she is speaking out against the Flint water crisis and asking if she could meet with the president, saying in part the following:
I am one of the children that is effected [sic] by this water, and I’ve been doing my best to march in protest and to speak out for all the kids that live here in Flint. This Thursday I will be riding a bus to Washington, D.C. to watch the congressional hearings of our Governor Rick Snyder. I know this is probably an odd request but I would love for a chance to meet you or your wife. My mom said chances are you will be too busy with more important things, but there is a lot of people coming on these buses and even just a meeting from you or your wife would really lift people’s spirits. Thank you for all that [you] do for our country. I look forward to being able to come to Washington and to be able to see Gov. Snyder in person and to be able to be in the city where you live.
This week Obama responded, telling Mari how proud he was of her efforts.
“I am so proud of you for using your voice to speak out on behalf of the children of Flint,” the president replied. “That’s why I want you to be the first to know that I’m coming to visit Flint on May 4th. I want to make sure people like you and your family are receiving the help you need and deserve. Like you, I’ll use my voice to call for change and help lift up your community.”
Read the full letters, posted by the White House, at Medium.com.
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