About 2,000 nurses, community activists and others called on Detroit officials Friday to stop shutting off water to thousands of customers who are behind on their bills. Protesters trying to prevent crews from conducting the shutoffs also picketed earlier in the day outside the offices of a private contractor working for the city.

Contra Costa County must recognize basic human and civil rights of the people of West Contra Costa County, and accept responsibility for hospital care in West Contra Costa County by integrating Doctors Medical Center San Pablo into Contra Costa Health Services.

At least 300 demonstrators marched through downtown streets on Friday, protesting a move by the city’s Water Department to force tens of thousands of delinquent customers to pay up or face a cutoff in service. From the Cobo Center to Hart Plaza on the banks of the Detroit River, protesters chanted, “Fight, fight; water is a human right.” Others carried placards that read “Thirsty for Justice.”

Throngs of progressive activists, union members and Detroit residents streamed through downtown on Friday to protest the controversial water shutoffs that are leaving homes here dry. With chants of "water is a human right" and "no water, no peace," protesters demanded an end to the shutoff of past-due accounts and declared the situation a public health emergency.

The California Nurses Association is gearing up for what could be contentious contract negotiations with Kaiser Permanente. The existing contract expires Aug. 31. It covers 17,000 registered nurses across Northern California, including 3,500 in the Sacramento region. Face-to-face talks begin July 24 and union officials are willing to call a strike if Kaiser proposes cuts considered harmful to nurses or patients.

As many as one thousand people showed up outside Cobo Center in downtown Detroit Friday, calling for an immediate moratorium on service shutoffs by the city’s water department. Among them was “Avengers” actor Mark Ruffalo, who appeared unexpectedly, calling on others to join the demonstration.

Lay the blame for the manufactured crisis at the feet of those responsible: Wall Street Speculators and Gov. Rick Snyder. Join Registered Nurses as they declare a public health emergency and demand a moratorium on the unprecedented water shutoffs. Nurses, Detroit residents, clergy, labor, environmentalists, Netroots Nation opinion leaders, and others will march and rally to condemn this violation of human rights. Gov. Snyder is allowing the tragedy to continue with an endgame of privatizing the public water department — the latest in a string of gifts to Wall Street.

The comment period for the FDA Safety and Innovation Act framework closed last week with 172 organizations and individuals contributing remarks to the docket. More than 50 of the comments came from registered nurses as part of a campaign by National Nurses United, the largest U.S. nurses union. The group has strongly criticized the implementation of electronic health records, especially clinical decision support software, which provides clinicians with alerts and medical advice.

Here is a glimpse of the huge march and rally to protest the Detroit water shutoffs. It’s an amazing feat of organization, led by National Nurses United.