Russell Simmons gives water, calls for arrest of Gov. Snyder

FLINT, Mich. (WJBK) - Support for Flint is pouring in across the country and music mogul Russell Simmons has joined the fray by donating hundreds of thousands of bottles of water and calling for the arrest of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder.

Simmons, the business and music magnate, was in Flint Monday for a town hall meeting at First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church where he dropped off a tower of water and a message for Snyder.

"He's got to go, in handcuffs," Simmons said. "You can't stand next to this governor - he's too dirty. Republican or not, you can't stand next to him."

That follows suit with what he told FOX 2 earlier in the day. He called the disaster negligent and a case of environmental racism.

"It has to do with sending less fortunate and people of color less services," he said. "In this particular case, they were voters who didn't vote for the governor. They're underserved community members. ... The fact is, no one black voted for this governor and I think they're less important to him."

During the town hall in Flint, Simmons led chants that included "Arrest Snyder" and "Flint Lives Matter". The standing-room only crowd was welcoming to the latest big name celebrity who pledged his support and resources for the city.

"Your struggle is my struggle," Simmons said. "I'm in it for the long run."

Simmons also had Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha with him. She's the pediatrician who was vilified by the state after her exhaustive research showed high levels of lead in Flint children.

"We are in a state of emergency now, not because of the water but because of our children," Dr. Hanna-Attisha. "We will not stop fighting for the entire population but most importantly for our kids. They did nothing wrong."

Dr. Hanna-Attisha is working on a comprehensive program to address the long-term needs of 9,000-10,000 Flint children believed to be at risk because of lead exposure.

But other speakers, like Benjamin Crump, were more focused on what has happened and who's to blame. Crump represented the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Tamir Rice.

"A crime has been committed against the citizens of flint," Crump said. "If ISIS would have poisoned 100,000 Americans we would call it an act of terrorism. This is environmental racism. Stand up because Flint lives matter."