Dear Friends,
Across the United States, and around the world, our streets are again full. People around the globe are demanding justice for the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless Black Americans who have been hurt and killed by police brutality and white supremacy. We, the People in 2020, demand that we dismantle the systems of racism and oppression upon which our country was built.
For over twenty years, I’ve been a lawyer. I believe in the power of our justice system to right wrongs. I believe in the possibilities of justice. And I ache at the too slow pace of our judicial process and the moments of its utter failings. Our Children’s Trust has spent a decade supporting and representing young people in climate change litigation, seeking to protect their basic human right to a stable climate. But the truth is--the environmental justice they seek is interwoven with racial justice. The right to breathe freely. To birdwatch freely. To run freely. To provide food and shelter for your family. Racism and environmental destruction both strip away freedom, leaving children of color the most vulnerable to a lifetime of deprivations and injury.
Freedom from racism and freedom from climate destruction go hand in hand.
Today I donated to the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund. Their courageous lawyers have been leaders in advocating for racial justice in America since long before Brown v. Board of Education was won in the U.S. Supreme Court--the landmark precedent that ended segregation and began a new legacy of protecting children from government-sanctioned harm, work that we rely upon in our cases. You can learn more about NAACP’s critical work here. There are many ways people can take action, including protesting, calling elected officials, and donating to organizations like the NAACP. For anyone looking for a place to start, I recommend reading this recent essay by President Barack Obama.
To our Black and Brown plaintiffs, colleagues, friends, family, supporters, and community members: we stand with you. Our Children’s Trust will continue our fight in the courtrooms of America, demanding a stable climate for our youth. We will also continue to stand in solidarity with the individuals, organizations, and communities across our country who are fighting for racial equality. Our goals are the same: justice and equal protection under the law, and a safer nation for all of our children.
In solidarity,
Julia Olson
Executive Director & Chief Legal Counsel
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