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June 22, 2017

Detroit, MI: Judge Dismisses Charges Against "Homrich 9" Activists
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And in Detroit, Michigan, a judge has dismissed all charges against
water rights activists known as the "Homrich 9," finding they were
denied their right to a speedy trial after prosecutors spent nearly
three years pursuing misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges against
them. In July of 2014, the activists peacefully blockaded a facility run
by the contractor Homrich, which was hired by Detroit to cut off the
water to thousands of homeowners who were behind on their bills. The
shutoffs came as the city more than doubled the price of water over a
decade and as Detroit suffered through what was then the largest
municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.


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