Detroit Residents Protest Mouron Facility, Call For City Intervention

Residents from Detroit's east side, alongside local leaders and community groups, congregated at Gaylord and Moran on Friday morning to advocate for the closure of a concrete crushing facility they claim is contaminating their environment. Activist Jahdante Smith, a District 3 resident, noted significant complaints regarding air quality, truck noise, and surrounding blight. “Living under these conditions is detrimental to our health—children and the elderly are particularly affected,” Smith asserted during a press conference. Joining him were State Sen. Stephanie Chang and U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, along with other concerned activists and residents, including Diana Morris. Morris lamented the neighborhood’s decline over the years due to the facility’s presence, recalling its once vibrant community. Despite health risks, city officials maintain that the plant adheres to legal operational standards. Morris's personal story of lung issues resonates with the urgent need for awareness of silica dust’s dangers, as El-Sayed emphasized the severe implications for young, developing lungs.