DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 13, 2024) — Governor Roy Cooper’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) will hold its final public meeting in Stanly County, a decision that honors the years of dedicated work by community members and advocates fighting local injustices. Thanks to the efforts of the Concerned Citizens of West Badin, the community has tirelessly fought against pollution from the Aluminum Company of America factory — though government bodies have fallen short of their duty in listening to their demands.
Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) applauds EJAC for listening to the Concerned Citizens of West Badin and hopes this meeting will lead to meaningful action. SCSJ urges EJAC to take additional steps, detailed in this joint comment letter from the Southern Environmental Law Center, Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, and SCSJ, to ensure all community members have the opportunity to participate and engage in this crucial discussion.
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Southern Coalition for Social Justice, founded in 2007, partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. Learn more at southerncoalition.org and follow our work on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.