Black History Month Celebration to Discuss Environmental Justice

EcoWatch is teaming up with Will Steger Foundation, Sierra Club and cultural groups from the University of Minnesota to host a discussion focused on cultural, health, and policy perspectives on clean air on February 29th at noon. Clean Air: The New Civil Rights Struggle will feature an expert panel speaking about the impact of air quality on Minnesota’s communities and offer an opportunity to ask questions.

“Our health is not for sale.” said Sierra Club Environmental Justice Organizer Karen Monahan, “It is a human right that every child, parent, grandparent is able to breathe clean air.”

Every year in this country harmful emissions cause thousands of asthma-related hospital visits, illnesses, and even deaths. Some communities suffer more than others because of where pollution-emitting power plants and factories are located. Since 2001, new asthma cases among African American children have risen by 50%.

Monahan continued, “What would Dr. King say about the assault on our health by dirty polluters? I think he would be on the front lines with us singing ‘We shall overcome."

Clean Air: The New Civil Rights Struggle is cosponsored by: EcoWatch, Will Steger Foundation, Sierra Club, Black Motivated Women, Black Student Union, Native American Law Students Association, Black Law Student Association, and American Indian Student Cultural Center.

WHAT:              Clean Air: The New Civil Rights Struggle

WHEN:            Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 at 12:00 pm (doors open at 11:45 am)

WHO:              LaMoine LaPointe – Healthy Nations Program Director at Phillips Indian Educators

Wendy Brunner, Asthma Program Epidemiologist at MN Department of Health

Karen Monahan – Environmental Justice Organizer at Sierra Club

Keith Ellison - U.S. House of Representatives (invited)

WHERE:       University of Minnesota East Bank, Coffman Memorial Union, Mississippi Room (map)

RSVP