‘We Don’t Need No MTV’: People Furious At Newark Water Crisis Bring Protest To VMAs
Steps away from the glitz and the glamour of the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards, held Monday for the first time in Newark, New Jersey, hundreds of protesters vented their frustration at the ongoing water crisis in the city.
“We don’t need no MTV. We want our water free!” demonstrators chanted as celebrities including Taylor Swift, Cardi B and Lil Nas X arrived at the award show. About 200 people attended the protest outside the Prudential Center in Newark’s business district, NJ.com reported.
Some of the Newark clean water protest happening before the #VMAs. Full video soon. Newark Water Coalition is here. “We want our water free. We don’t need no MTV,” demonstrators say. “Clean water now.” They also chanted about “racist police” next to police officers on horseback. pic.twitter.com/WMdbVHdrJY
— Amy Kuperinsky (@AmyKup) August 26, 2019
at @MTV #VMAs members of @CleanWater4Nwk, XR NJ, @XR_NYC and allies have blocked streets and marched to show in solidarity protest with tens of thousands of Newark residents who dont have access to safe, drinkable H2O pic.twitter.com/oXXCG4RH9d
— Chris Bolman 🔆 (@ChrisBolman) August 26, 2019
The protest came hours after officials announced an ambitious $120 million plan to expedite the replacement of thousands of old service lines that are leaching lead into Newark’s drinking water.
Mayor Ras Baraka said the city aims to replace 18,000 service lines in the next 24 to 30 months. According to The New York Times, the effort will the largest water line replacement project ever attempted by New Jersey.
“We are going to do this as swiftly as humanly possible,” Baraka said at a news conference. The mayor added that bottled water would continue to be distributed to residents as more tests are carried out to determine the safety of the city’s drinking water.
The #VMAs are in Newark, NJ this year. The same location as another #WaterCrisis like #FlintWaterCrisis. #NewarkWaterCrisis so a protest was organized to greet the awards show. The police came with horses as the protest took the streets. #WaterIsLife pic.twitter.com/RMbA4jWKoh
— Tardigrade (@StopMotionsolo) August 26, 2019
Outside the VMAs, Newark residents said they were “ready to fight for clean water.”
“We have been suffering for years, many years, crying out for help to our elected officials who have not stepped up to save us,” resident and demonstrator Shakima Thomas said, according to NJ.com.
Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose told the news outlet that five protesters were arrested after attempting to enter a secure area.
Videos circulating on social media showed a man being pinned to the ground by several officers outside the Prudential Center.
Refinery29 said the protester was reportedly arrested after descending from a traffic light pole.
Someone got arrested at #vmas #mtvvmas @mtv https://t.co/7YC93G2eau
— Laura (@fashion7thave) August 26, 2019
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
