Racial Discrimination And Environmental Justice

Camden has the second highest cancer rate in New Jersey, and the eighth highest in the nation thanks to over 100 toxic waste sites. When the St. Lawrence Cement Company tried to build yet another polluting factory in Camden, citizens banded together and convinced a district court to halt construction. Then the Supreme Court ruled in Alexander v Sandoval that citizens could not sue based on discriminatory effect. In order to block the construction of yet another polluter, citizens would need to show that there was intentional discrimination.

This clip is part of a video made by award-winning documentarian Stanley Nelson, which exposes the negative consequences of a federal judiciary that is increasingly opposed to civil rights protections. Mr. Nelson puts a human face on what has come to be known as the "rollback" of civil rights. The full film is 22 minutes and is an excellent teaching tool for those interested in educating friends, family, and neighbors about these issues.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• civilrights
• environment
• justice
• courts
• civil
• rights
• activism
• ncrcr
• discrimination
• race
• camden
• newjersey

[godkingRoss]

but when they move the industry they'll be like "they took our jerrrbz!"

[annemaerose]

See my youtube Toxic Philadelphia to learn more about Environmental Justice, corrupt politics and the ill effects of toxic neighborhoods.

[bobbikat]

Regardless of race or income, this is an atrocious situation. No one (especially in a developed nation like the US!) should be subjected to such dangerous living conditions. Something needs to change.

[damastersj]

1st of all, the reason St. Lawernce Cement and other factories are built in Camden and not other towns in the county is because Camden is located on a navigable river, most other towns in Camden County are not. THE LARGE AMOUNT OF INDUSTRY IN CAMDEN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE. Camden was home to even more factories in the early 1900s when the majority of the city population was white. They should do a better job of controling the spread of dust, but it has nothing to do with race.

[PumpkinJoe999]

If you can't prove they are trying to intentionally hurt black people why would you go to court on the basis that they are intentionally trying to hurt black people?

I love how they claim that if black people had political power the situation would be different, because I guess whites are inherently greedy and racist. Way to fight intangible, implicit racism with explicit racism. Most "white people" don't root for "team white" and the ones that do are poor just like these people. Connection?

[MsTrying2BeNatural]

this is crazy

[QueenSemiramis]

It's the American way...

[laurareiman]

Good to see my people opening there eyes and mouths. It´s been past due, time.

[queerty212]

Disgusting stuff that goes on day after day. At least the people of Camden have YouTube to help them mobilize. People in other places do care about this.

[youngthach]

i never knew it was 8th in cancer in america.man this city is fucck up.and whats more fuck up.i live in this city