The White House has offered financial assistance to rehabilitate Notre Dame in Paris, a day after the historic church was engulfed in flames. The restoration efforts have already received almost $1 billion in funding worldwide.
The president’s quick gesture to help, while lovely, reflects poorly on his priorities. Twitter was eager to point out that cities and territories that fall under his leadership still need resources after tragedy, loss, and corruption. For example, Flint, Michigan, still doesn’t have clean water.
https://twitter.com/J_Eldridge_Fus/status/1118505601380823040
https://twitter.com/cabelloxbazzi/status/1118505586361081858
https://twitter.com/xavierlferreira/status/1118505452080381953
BUT DOES FLINT HAVE WATER THOUGH https://t.co/RqhKJuHw3K
— QueenMo’ (@AlwaysTylar) April 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/aidanparkins/status/1118505256395190274
Once again. I’ll say this again we got a city on our own soil without water. https://t.co/lYBwsBxejy
— kuz (@kylekuzma) April 17, 2019
Even Amariyanna “Mari” Copeny, the 11-year-old who became famously known as Little Miss Flint for penning a letter to President Obama about the water crisis, also tweeted about it.
Well look at there. Priorities all kind of messed up. https://t.co/cPD1DsSpZP
— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) April 17, 2019
On Tuesday, around the same time as the White House announcement, Flint reportedly received its remaining $77.7 million in federal funding from a $120 million federal and state loan that was announced in 2017 for improving the city’s water infrastructure.
While this loan aims to support certain water projects in Flint in the short and long term, local officials say a lot more needs to be done, and would require $300 million in “capital improvements” over the next two decades. This month marks the fifth year since a move to save money and draw water from the Flint River has led to a public health crisis in the area.
Along with Flint, many pointed out the glaring, more recent account of three Black churches set on fire in Louisiana, which received little media attention or response from the president.
https://twitter.com/MissyLV72/status/1118505316017041411
https://twitter.com/FlowerChild9614/status/1118502707361406976
https://twitter.com/MissyLV72/status/1118505316017041411
Yeah so let’s help France and let’s also give flint clean water and rebuild three black churches ALSO BURNED TO THE GROUND and let’s put the lights back on in Puerto Rico
— crimson, cpa (@crimson_cpa) April 17, 2019
Flint / Puerto Rico: we need help with clean water
— Jim Stevens (@BastardSon__) April 17, 2019
Louisiana: 3 black churches were burned down last week by a white nationalist
Trump White House: let’s help rebuild Notre Dame#AmericaFirst #MAGA #MorningJoe
Hillary Clinton also tweeted a reminder about the Lousiana church fires, sharing the link to a GoFundMe page that a local news site says has received increasing funds since the Notre Dame fire, raising about $1 million of its $1.8 million goal.
As we hold Paris in our thoughts today, let’s also send some love to our neighbors in Louisiana. Three historically black churches have burned in recent weeks, charring buildings and scattering communities. If you can, contribute to rebuilding funds here: https://t.co/OSteYWzU9v
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 16, 2019
Then there is the crisis in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria, which Trump did not respond to so quickly.
https://twitter.com/kashanacauley/status/1118275572889718784
*Flint & Puerto Rico enter the chat* https://t.co/5jagiCd5Ly
— Dylan Ali (@dylanali_) April 16, 2019
*Stares in Puerto Rican* https://t.co/2MpStnXkn5
— Dana White (@ItsDanaWhite) April 16, 2019
Last month, the president reportedly said the U.S. territory has received funds “way out of proportion” compared to Texas and Florida in the aftermath of their natural disasters, and refused to offer further aid to refurbish Puerto Rico’s water system or make the territory resilient to future storms. However, Trump is reportedly on board with giving $600 million in assistance for addressing a shortage of food stamps on the island, according to the Guardian.
The Notre Dame fire has been heartbreaking for many around the world, largely for people’s personal experiences with visiting the centuries-old monument. But it also shines a light on how certain historic monuments are worth mourning, while the destruction of Black churches and communities of color get ignored.
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