Invest in Flint’s Future

  During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, DeWaun E. Robinson—as the leader of the Black Lives Matter Flint chapter—and Councilman Eric Mays were frequent and vocal fixtures at rallies in Flint, often advocating for the same causes of racial and economic justice.

While they appeared at numerous events, one of their most notable shared platforms occurred during protests centered on the Flint Water Crisis settlement and the 2020 Juneteenth celebrations, which were heavily tied to the BLM movement that year.

• City Hall Protests (December 2020): Both Robinson and Mays spoke at a major protest outside Flint City Hall. Robinson, representing BLM Flint, denounced the proposed $641 million water settlement as "disrespectful" and "peanuts," while Councilman Mays urged residents and fellow council members to reject the deal, arguing that the per-resident compensation was insufficient.
  
• Juneteenth/BLM Rallies (June 2020): Robinson organized the 30th annual Juneteenth celebration at Max Brandon Park, which served as a massive BLM rally. He delivered an impassioned speech about the "pivotal moment" for Black Americans and the need for allies to stand against white supremacy. Councilman Mays, known for his "tell-it-like-it-is" style, often supported these rallies, focusing on the power of the Black vote and challenging the city administration’s handling of community resources.

• Shared Advocacy: Their speeches often overlapped in theme, with Robinson focusing on systemic change and community empowerment, and Mays focusing on the legislative and budgetary fights within the City Council to ensure those same community members were not ignored.

Both men have been central to the "front-line" activism in Flint, using their respective positions—Robinson as a grassroots organizer and Mays as a political firebrand—to keep local and national attention on the city's struggles. 

 That moment at Flint Southwestern Classical Academy (Southwestern High School) in October 2024 stands as a powerful bookend to Rev. Jesse Jackson’s decades-long relationship with the 

city of Flint.

Occurring just over a year before his passing in February 2026, the visit was widely regarded as a symbolic "passing of the torch." Despite the physical challenges of Parkinson’s, Rev. Jackson’s presence alongside local leadership served as a heavy reminder of the stakes of civic engagement and the power of the youth vote.

The event centered on several core themes that defined the intersection of Rev. Jackson’s national mission and Flint's local resilience:

• Civic Empowerment: The primary focus was a voter registration drive, urging students to recognize that their pens and ballots are their strongest tools for change.

• The Baton Pass: The community noted the significance of Rev. Jackson—a titan of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement—sharing the stage with the next generation of Flint’s advocates and leaders, such as DeWaun E. Robinson. 

• Environmental & Social Justice: Having been a frequent presence during the water crisis, Jackson’s return to a Flint school reinforced his message that the fight for clean water, quality education, and economic dignity is all one fight.