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March 23, 2009; Southern Coalition for Social Justice will represent New Hill in an Environmental Justice Matter to Challenge Plans of Western Wake Partners

Durham, NC - March 24 at 7p.m. New Hill, NC residents will meet to discuss new ways to address concerns about a draft Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that examines locating a wastewater treatment plant in their community – a proposal by the Western Wake Partners that has drawn opposition from the New Hill community since 2005. New Hill is a rural, majority-minority community in Western Wake County, located near the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant. They are opposed to the placement of the plant by the Western Wake Partners in their community, contending that:
  • The site places an unfair environmental burden on communities of color to the benefit of the predominantly white neighboring towns,
  • the majority of residents would not benefit from the plant as most households use septic systems, and an increased proximity to wastewater treatment increases risk of exposure to groundwater contaminants,
  • the proposed site is in the middle of the community’s historic district and adjacent to two community churches and a playground, and,
  • it would be detrimental to their way of life.
The wastewater plant would primarily serve nearby Apex, Cary, Holly Springs, and Morrisville. The proposed site, Site 14, would impact 231 residents, over 75% of whom are African American. The New Hill Community Association contends that there are better sites that would have little-to-no human impact, and that the social and environmental justice impacts of this site were not adequately considered by the Western Wake Partners. The New Hill Community Association is working with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice to challenge the placement of the plant. The Army Corps of Engineers released their draft EIS on March 13, 2008. Residents now have until April 28 to submit comments. At the Tuesday night meeting, New Hill residents will work to prepare public comments to deliver at the Draft EIS Public Comments Hearing on April 14. Tuesday night’s meeting will be held at the New Hill Baptist Church off old US 1 in New Hill, NC. For more information visit: www.SCSJ.org www.NewHillca.org

December 11th, 2008: Southern Human Rights Organizers Protest "287g" Program and Treatment of NC Immigrant Community

SOUTHERN COALITION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE http://www.scsj.org For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 11, 2008 Contacts: Elena Everett, Media Coordinator, 919-323-3380x112, cell 919-413-1276 elena@southerncoalition.org SOUTHERN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZERS PROTEST "287(G)" PROGRAM AND TREATMENT OF NC IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY DURHAM, NC – Participants in SHROC (the Southern Human Rights Organizers Conference) will hold a vigil and demonstration in front of the Wake County Jail on Saturday, December 13, from 5pm-7pm to protest the county's 287(g) program. SHROC is a biannual conference of human rights organizers from across the Southeast. SHROC leaders are particularly concerned about the targeting of immigrant communities throughout the South through the 287(g) program. The Wake County Sheriff's Department is one of eight law enforcement agencies in North Carolina to enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Proponents claim that these programs make our communities safer by facilitating the deportation of "dangerous convicted criminals." In reality, this program has been mostly used to target people accused of minor offenses. In Wake County, even victims of crime have been arrested under 287(g) and deported. Jose Sergio Ruis was deported after he reported a break-in at his home. He was told by police that his fingerprints were needed to distinguish them from those of potential suspects. Police ran his fingerprints through the ICE database and found that his immigration paperwork was not compliant. He was deported. Incidents like this have led many in immigrant communities to be fearful of cooperating with police. The NC Sherriff's Association reported that 33% of the over 3,000 people deported under the 287(g) program were detained for driving related offenses, other than DWI. This has led to widespread suspicion that police are using racial profiling and that people are being arrested solely to give law enforcement the ability to check their immigration status. For example, community members report a marked increase in police checkpoints in areas with a high Latino populations, including in front of Spanish-language churches on Sunday mornings. "Every member of our community has the right to live without fear. The 287(g) program is being abused and making our community members and immigrant families feel less safe," said Marty Rosenbluth, staff attorney with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. MORE INFORMATION Southern Coalition for Social Justice; http://www.scsj.org 919-323-3380 Southern Human Rights Organizers Network; http://www.shroc.org ~ END ~

January 14th, 2009: Rally Against Police Brutality

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Contacts: Theresa El-Amin, Director, Southern Anti-Racism Network 919-824-0659, TheresaElAmin@aol.com Elena Everett, Media Coordinator, Southern Coalition for Social Justice 919-323-3380x112, cell 919-413-1276, Elena@southerncoalition.org DURHAM COMMUNITY AND MURDER VICTIMS' FAMILIES RALLY ON JAN 15 TO PROTEST POLICE VIOLENCE AND THE KILLING OF OSCAR GRANT DURHAM, NC – Community leaders, human rights attorneys, and families of the victims of police violence will hold a rally on Thursday, January 15, at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Durham Police Department (505 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham) as part of nationwide protests in the killing of Oscar Grant by a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) police officer. Oscar Grant was a 22-year-old unarmed African American youth who was shot to death on New Year's Day on a subway platform in Oakland, CA. Since that time, there has been a nationwide outcry in response to the killing, including popular unrest in Oakland that lasted several days. Communities are calling for justice and an end to police violence – particularly against youth of color. Speakers include: • Brenda Howerton, Durham County Commissioner whose 19-year-old son was killed by Greensboro police • Theresa El Amin, Southern Anti-Racism Network • Anita Earls, Attorney and Director, Southern Coalition for Social Justice • Arthur Romano, organizer, Gathering for Justice • Nia Wilson, Director, SpiritHouse NC • Al McSurley, Chapel Hill Human Rights Attorney and legal counsel for the NC NAACP • Fred Battle, long-time past president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP • Sandi Velez, community and prison ministry activist "January 15 is the 80th birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is a fitting celebration of his life as we gather, our minds and hearts united with all those who have been lost to police brutality and the many more whose lives have been stolen from us as a result of unequal and segregated communities, inadequate education, unjust judicial systems and prisons for profit," said Theresa El-Amin, director of the Southern Anti-Racism Network. MORE INFORMATION Southern Anti Racism Network; http://www.projectsarn.org Southern Coalition for Social Justice; http://www.scsj.org; 919-323-3380 Spirithouse; http://spirithouse-nc.org ###