DETROIT – Activists were protesting Friday in Detroit, calling on the city to stop shutting off the water to residents and businesses immediately.
The groups also are calling for a tax on Wall Street that they claim will raise millions of dollars for cities like Detroit that are in need.
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The water department stepped up the shutoffs in March to collect some of the nearly $90 million owed by residents, businesses and other customers with past-due accounts. Through June, more than $43 million was owed on over 80,000 city residential accounts.
Spokesman Bill Johnson says service has not been shut off to anyone who has come to the water department with a "legitimate problem" in paying their bill.
There were 93 shutoffs and 41 reactivations made on Friday.
[Web extra] Timeline of water shutoffs
The protest began about 1 p.m. outside of Cobo Center in Detroit. It included a rally at 1:45 p.m. in Hart Plaza.