Support Color Of Change’s work to protect our Earth

A gif of graphics for Color Of Change's environmental justice campaigns, which includes holding Norfolk Southern and Trinseo accountable and stopping Cop City.

John,

From Flint, Michigan, to Jackson, Mississippi, we’ve seen how anti-Black policy decisions and an astonishing lack of corporate accountability have made Black communities especially susceptible to environmental disasters. That’s why Color Of Change is leading the call to demand access to clean water and enact environmental protections in Black communities across the nation. In recognition of Earth Day, will you make a contribution of $25 or more today to fuel our campaigns for environmental justice?

CHIP IN, John

  • We are calling on Trinseo, a multimillion-dollar petrochemical company, to reimburse Philadelphia residents who bought water and to provide residents with emergency water at no cost after spilling chemicals into Otter Creek in late March. The chemical spill sent Philadelphia residents into a panic as residents were forced to drink bottled water, causing stores to run out of bottled water.1 No one should have to subsidize the costs resulting from corporate neglect. 
  • In February, we launched a campaign demanding Norfolk Southern and other major railroad companies do more to make their workers and trains safer. The Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, contaminated water, air and soil with cancer-causing vinyl chloride and led to the death of more than 43,000 fish.2 The Ohio River provides drinking water for several cities, including Cincinnati, Ohio, which has a large Black population.3,4 Preventing train derailments protects our water supply. 
  • We have continued our work to stop the construction of “Cop City,” a militarized police training facility being built in the heart of the Weelaunee Forest in Atlanta, Georgia.5 The removal of old growth trees in the forest puts the surrounding communities at an increased risk of flooding. The nearby South River is the fourth most endangered river in America. The chemical runoff from weapons testing at the militarized police facility will further pollute the South River and the surrounding communities.6 We are putting pressure on government officials and corporations to consider the ecological harm caused by “Cop City."

CHIP IN TO MAKE ACCESSIBLE CLEAN WATER THE STANDARD

John, support for Black and low-income residents hasn’t been coming from the top — it comes from members like you. Historically oppressed communities are less likely to have access to safe drinking water.7 One report found that drinking water systems that constantly violated federal water quality standards were 40 percent more likely to occur in cities and towns with higher percentages of residents of color. Many petrochemical facilities are located or planned near Black communities.8 Exposure to petrochemicals can lead to a higher incidence of cancer and cancer mortality.9 

Your donation would contribute to Color Of Change’s ongoing efforts toward systemic change to make environmental justice a reality

YES, I WANT TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE A REALITY

Until Justice Is Real,

COC’s Corporate Accountability Team

References: 

  1. Maddie Hanna and Abraham Gutman, “Philly residents now advised tap water is safe,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 26, 2023, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/392809?t=9&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG.
  2. Drew Scofield, “ONDR update on East Palestine: More than 43,000 fish died in train derailment,”News 5 Cleveland, February 24, 2023, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/390381?t=11&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG. 
  3. “Water Sources and Source Protection,” City of Cincinnati, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/391802?t=13&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG. 
  4. “QuickFacts: Cincinnati city, Ohio,” United States Census Bureau, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/391803?t=15&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG.
  5. Ray Levy Uyeda, “Atlanta community members warn of environmental damage from ‘Cop City’”, Prism Reports, June 15, 2022, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/387655?t=17&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG. 
  6. Wayne Butler, “Research shows that weapons testing at new police training facility could expose the public to toxic chemicals, contaminate urban farm and South River” Mainline, July, 2021 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/387657?t=19&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG. 
  7. Margie Kelly, Eric Whalen, and Fabiola Nunez, “New Drinking Water Report: Communities of Color More Likely to Suffer Drinking Water Violations For Years,” NRDC, September 14, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/390384?t=21&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG. 
  8. Danny McArthur, “Gulf South activists say Ohio train derailment reflects their fight against petrochemicals,” WWNO, March 2, 2023, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/392813?t=23&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG. 
  9. José L. Domingo, Montse Marquès, Martí Nadal, and Marta Schuhmacher, “Health risks for the population living near petrochemical industrial complexes. 1. Cancer risks: A review of the scientific literature,” Environmental Research, July 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/392814?t=25&akid=56301%2E4731121%2EDk37DG.