In Benton Harbor, Michigan, a city long burdened by a water crisis, Reverend Edward Pinkney has become a central figure in the fight for environmental justice. Alongside his trusted ally Frank Blue, Reverend Pinkney has dedicated himself to ensuring residents have access to clean, safe drinking water, a basic human right that has too often been denied. Over the course of a three-week campaign, Reverend Pinkney, Frank Blue, and a team of five volunteers delivered nearly 200 water filters directly to households across Benton Harbor over the summer. Day after day, they went door-to-door, ensuring that families received the equipment they needed to make residents know their water is safe. Their work was not just about distributing filters; it was about building trust and easing fears in a community where it is feared that speaking up about unsafe water could lead to retaliation from local officials. “The residents are intimidated, not scared,” Reverend Pinkney explained. “Residents are afraid that if they speak up, there could be retaliation. That’s why we do this, so they don’t have to stand alone.” His words reflect the heart of the campaign: to shield the community from intimidation while addressing a need too urgent to ignore.
properly use a filter with a Benton Harbor resident.
From Local Struggle to International Spotlight
Reverend Pinkney’s advocacy extends far beyond the filter campaign. In 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic, he filed a petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency demanding federal action on Benton Harbor’s drinking water quality crisis. That petition brought national attention and even international media coverage, with outlets reporting on the city’s unsafe water. Federal intervention followed, with bottled water distributed to residents, and eventually, all lead services were replaced. Yet Reverend Pinkney was clear about the shortcomings of this solution. “Bottled water was never the answer,” he said firmly. “It’s costly and it’s inefficient. Because the crisis deeply eroded trust in the water, filters give families confidence in their drinking water at home being clean and safe, which is real relief, especially when we provide both a faucet filter and a pitcher filter.”
Beyond Clean Water: Building Community Resilience
Reverend Pinkney’s vision for Benton Harbor goes beyond water. In his spare time, he cultivates a community garden along with Emma Kinnard on land they purchased for just one dollar. The lot once held a large, abandoned house, but they transformed it into a thriving garden that now produces fresh vegetables for their neighbors. What was once a symbol of
neglect is now a space of nourishment and community pride. “If people were more humanitarian than money hungry, the world would be a better place,” Reverend Pinkney reflected while tending to the garden. The garden, much like the water filters, is more than a resource; it is a statement of care, resilience, and the belief that communities can thrive when their basic needs are met.
A Legacy of Hope and Justice
Nearly 200 families now benefit from water filters because Reverend Pinkney and his team refused to slow down. Federal and international awareness of Benton Harbor’s water crisis came because he refused to stay silent. Fresh food now grows for the community because he chose to transform a derelict property into something life-giving. His leadership shows that when justice is rooted in love, persistence, and humanity, even the most daunting challenges can be met. Benton Harbor’s fight for clean and affordable water is far from over, but Reverend Pinkney’s work stands as a testament to the power of grassroots action. “This fight has always been about humanity,” Reverend Pinkney says. “Every person deserves the basic right to clean and safe drinking water.”
The people of Benton Harbor still carry concerns about their drinking water, and ongoing support makes a real difference. Reverend Pinkney welcomes anyone who would like to help. If you are interested in lending a hand, you can reach him at (269) 369-8257 or banco9342@sbcglobal.net.
