Concerned citizens to head to New York to protest owner of idle Highland Park chemical plant

Highland Park residents plan trip to New York to protest Shahid Khan, owner of idle Chrome Craft chemical plant

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – Michael Miley is going to New York City for NFL Draft day.

He is a football fan but this trip isn't for pleasure. Miley, along with other concerned citizens, is heading to the Big Apple to protest.

"He's able to buy a football team, but he's unable to clean up the mess that he left," Miley said.

He's referring to Chicago billionaire Shahid Khan. Khan recently purchased the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also owns the idled auto parts supplier Chrome Craft in Highland Park. It's a plant many residents and workers believe is toxic.

The community spoke to the Department of Environmental Quality this past month about reputed leaks, spills and the use of hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing chemical made famous in the movie "Erin Brockovich."

In a couple weeks, state environment experts will begin testing the ground in the area. The community got the state to act, now they're going after Khan. Local pastor David Bullock is leading the way.

"We will be raising our voices and speaking truth to power and asking that power to do the right thing and care about the people," Bullock said.

A bus will leave for New York Wednesday morning. There will be a number of draft events held Thursday, during which the group plans to make the rounds and make their voices heard.