Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves Is Facing Backlash After Saying It Was “A Great Day To Not Be In Jackson” Amid The City’s Water Crisis

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves made enjoyable of the continued water disaster in Jackson on Friday, only a day after the state lifted a weeks-long boil water advisory, that left greater than 150,000 individuals within the capital metropolis with out clear water of their properties.

“I’ve received to let you know it’s a nice day to be in Hattiesburg. It is also, as at all times, a fantastic day to not be in Jackson,” Reeves said, as he spoke at a groundbreaking occasion within the southern Mississippi metropolis on Friday. “I really feel like I ought to take off my emergency administration director hat and go away it within the automobile and take off my public works director hat and go away it within the automobile.”

The governor’s feedback drew swift backlash on-line with individuals blasting Reeves for making gentle of a public well being emergency that has disproportionately impacted individuals of coloration. For almost seven weeks, Jackson residents — about 82.5% of whom are Black — have been compelled to boil what got here out of their taps due to considerations that the water was contaminated and will trigger sickness. The disaster intensified in late August when town’s most important water remedy facility began to fail, forcing staff to regulate remedy processes. Consequently, many residents have been left with no or low water strain of their properties for days.

“In essentially the most disgraceful Governor sweepstakes, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is a winner,” Sherrilyn Ifill, a civil rights lawyer and former president of the NAACP Authorized Protection Fund, tweeted.

“I feel we will formally say that Tate Reeves, Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott are the brand new Axis of Evil,” another person said.