DOTHAN, Ala. – The Shiloh community and the Bullard Center are making one last attempt to address the ongoing flooding crisis in their area by taking their “Journey to Justice” campaign to Washington, D.C. The community had hoped for a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg before the Biden-Harris administration concludes its term, but a significant setback has altered their plans.
Pastor Timothy Williams, a resident of Shiloh, confirmed that the meeting with Secretary Buttigieg would not take place as scheduled. “We just got confirmation that there will not be a meeting in D.C.,” Williams said. “These are the same old things we have been dealing with. We can’t even get a meeting, and when we do, it gets canceled.”
The community’s primary concern is the ongoing flooding in their area, which they say has worsened over the years due to infrastructure issues. Williams and other residents had hoped to engage with Buttigieg about addressing the environmental challenges they face, particularly the partial Voting Rights Act (VRA). However, with no meeting scheduled, the group’s frustration continues to mount.
As an alternative, the Shiloh community will first visit the New Birth Church in Atlanta on Sunday, where they will share their experiences and show a video to educate attendees on the flooding crisis. The church is one of the partners in their initiative to raise awareness and seek prayers for a resolution.
The group will then head to Washington, D.C., for a press conference on Tuesday outside the U.S. Department of Transportation. The event will feature environmental justice leaders and Sierra Club President Ben Jealous. Afterward, the community plans to hand-deliver a petition with more than 5,000 signatures to Secretary Buttigieg. Ironically, Buttigieg will be out of town that day, scheduled to speak at the University of Michigan, leaving the community to once again feel ignored.
“It is as though he is running from us,” Williams remarked. “He goes all around the country talking about the great work, but he’s leaving Shiloh hanging. He saw what’s going on here.”
The Shiloh community’s frustration is compounded by the fact that the flooding crisis has persisted through multiple administrations. As Williams explained, the community is desperate for a binding agreement from the current administration to address the damage, but if no resolution is reached, they are prepared to pursue legal action. “It will have to be legal action,” Williams stated. “We are talking with attorneys. It’s sad that we have to go that route. They created it, so it’s time to go after ALDOT, USDOT, and FHWA because they put us in a bad situation, and they know it.”
Despite the setback in their efforts, Williams emphasized that the Shiloh community will continue to fight for justice, regardless of who holds office. “It’s flooding into a third administration,” he said. “But we will keep fighting for justice no matter who is in office.”