As Twitchy reported recently, the City of Gary, Indiana, has been without power since a storm system struck on August 11. Both ABC News and NBC News spoke with residents about the hardship of living without electricity, with neither mentioning that repair crews had been shot at. NBC News reported that Mayor Eddie Melton had spoken with President Donald Trump and asked him to sign an executive order "and move this thing forward so folks can start getting back to work and we start restoring Gary back to normal." Melton said Trump told him he was going to do all that he could.
Melton appeared on Don Lemon's podcast the other day and agreed 100 percent with Lemon's take that Gary was being deprioritized because it's mostly black. As we mentioned, plenty of people are throwing around the term "environmental racism."
Gary, Indiana, mayor says his city is "100%" being neglected because it's a predominantly black city after going 13 days without power.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 25, 2026
The electric company, NIPSCO, says they were forced to pause work after their crew was shot at while they were helping restore power.
NIPSCO… pic.twitter.com/HeyGB70Rea
The post continues:
… says their employees were scouting when someone started shooting at them. The marked NIPSCO Jeep was reportedly hit twice, with one bullet being lodged in the headrest.
"We’ve paused work out there until the city and company get a plan in place [for our safety]," NIPSCO said at the time.
"Our men and women are busting their *** 24/7 to get the power back on for 300,000 people spread over three counties, so it’s unfortunate and shouldn’t have happened."
They have since resumed power restoration.
Lemon didn't bring up the shooting either, at least not in this clip.
Gary, IN Mayor Eddie Melton, at Aug 19 presser: "I want to be clear, Gary has not been left behind."
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) August 25, 2026
Melton, today to Don Lemon and his audience: "It's typically communities of color are left behind during tragic events like this." pic.twitter.com/pSCaZTnlPg
It has nothing to do with race.
— Daniel J. White (@JDjwhite54) August 25, 2026
Recommended
The electric utility in Gary is NIPSCO which has a black CEO, a black Chief Operating Officer and black Group President of Utilities. Clearly the problem is White people. pic.twitter.com/0JVMfCTxc5
— Arthur Sido (@DelargeExtra) August 23, 2026
Crews got shot at while trying to restore power. A bullet in the headrest is why the work paused not because the city is predominantly Black.
— Blue Mafia (@BlueMafia9) August 25, 2026
And there it is. Don 🍋 going directly to the race card. One trick pony.
— Righteous Indignation (@ScottHolbrook5) August 25, 2026
Make it about race to cover for generational bad decisions.
— Ray Maddalone (@GlowplugvRay) August 25, 2026
Lowest form of political fighting.
Convincing employees of a utility company to work in a place where the people shot at them is a tough sell.
— NeoUnrealist (@NeoUnrealist) August 25, 2026
Neglected by who? Its own leadership? Are we at the point where cities can ignore there own problems for decades then put their hand out to the taxpayers nationwide?
— 1776 was a good year (@jalanfoster) August 25, 2026
WTF! All the people that are responsible are black. They form the backbone of the council and power company. They run the city. This isn't a white person thing, it's an incompetence thing.
— Andrew Morris (@AndyJackMorris) August 25, 2026
There is an issue all over Northwest Indiana. It is not just Gary. They are definitely making this a political and race issue.
— Budrow (@useyourct) August 25, 2026
NEWSFLASH: All the mostly white towns around Gary have NO POWER either. Stop spreading lies.
— Runnn48 (@runnn48) August 25, 2026
How is it racist and "being neglected because it's a predominantly black city" when it's run by black people? Everyone in power is black.
— davidbrady1234 (@mouse_alien) August 25, 2026
Neglected you say? pic.twitter.com/JGlxYyuv6v
— Constantine (@_sleepybrowns) August 25, 2026
But the entire political structure is black and the entire executive officers of the power company are black. Make it make sense.
— One angry midget (@0neangrymidget) August 25, 2026
His lack of accountability from this video alone should tell all the residents he’s not fit for this job.
— Parker Burleson (@MrPburleson) August 25, 2026
Gary is getting a lot of attention because it's mostly black, but it's certainly not the only city whose power went out after the storm struck Indiana.
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