Freddie Gibbs Blasts Power Company Over Terrible Response To Crisis

Freddie Gibbs didn’t mince words when he spoke about his hometown’s power crisis.

The Grammy-winning rapper appeared on MS NOW’s “All In with Chris Hayes” to address the ongoing blackout devastating Gary, Indiana.

“This isn’t a storm problen for August,” Gibbs said. “This is an infrastructure problem Gary has. This storm is shedding light on it. We have an archaic type of electrical system we have with the company providing power to our city,” Freddie Gibbs said.

His words cut to the heart of a humanitarian emergency that’s been unfolding for two weeks.

On August 11, a derecho with winds reaching 99 mph tore through Northwest Indiana, leaving Gary as the hardest-hit city.

More than 20,000 residents, in a city that’s 80% Black, have been without electricity, refrigeration, air conditioning, and basic necessities.

Gibbs didn’t just talk. He put money behind his words. While touring overseas, the rapper committed financial support to Gary’s recovery efforts.

Mayor Eddie Melton publicly acknowledged Gibbs’ contribution, alongside those of other celebrities who stepped up.

Glenn Robinson, the NBA Hall of Famer from Gary, donated $100,000. Social media personality Keith Lee organized relief events with the Salvation Army. Darius Garland also contributed.

But Gibbs’ appearance on national television served a bigger purpose. He brought attention to what many felt was being overlooked.

Families have been throwing away spoiled food. Small businesses like J’s Breakfast Club lost nearly $19,000 in sales during the first week alone.

Schools closed. Elderly residents and people dependent on medical equipment faced serious risks.

The utility company NIPSCO defended its response, saying Gary suffered the storm’s most complicated infrastructure damage.

But residents questioned why a predominantly Black city took so long to restore power compared to neighboring areas.