Thread by @UWFIllinois

HAPPENING NOW: community members, labor leaders and elected officials call on the Lightfoot administration to #DenyThePermit and #StopGeneralIron from further polluting the southeast side. fb.watch/3GseynWx-t/

Chuck Stark, one of the hunger strikers who teaches @ Washington H.S. opens up the presser by announcing 70 teachers are participating in a day-long fast in solidarity. Mr. Stark is on day 12 of starving himself in order to demand the city take action against environmental racism

To the Lightfoot administration: "If you persist with business as usual we will not sit quietly and we will not go away."

Lauren Bianchi reads a statement of solidarity from the 70+ teachers participating in the day-long fast. "We are no longer going to accept the southeast side as a dumping ground." #DenyThePermit #StopGeneralIron

Full letter here:

https://twitter.com/citiesin_dust/status/1361358917725487117?s=20

.@SigchoFor25 thanks hunger strikers who are putting health on the line to protect the health of others. "Such a shame we are in this position...instead of standing up for environmental justice, [the mayor + others] have received campaign contributions from these polluters."

Notes the Environmental Department that Candidate Lightfoot promised to reopen remains closed.

"We have to be clear that environmental racism has been in our communities for a long time and this time we are saying enough." Notes that no economic growth is worth the pollution that is caused from these harmful corporations. The community needs green jobs.

.@RossanaFor33 links the environmental racism experienced on the southeast side to what Puerto Rico has experienced where she was born and raised. "I know what it's like to feel used."

Nurse Elizabeth Lalasz from @NationalNurses talks about this fight as a public health crisis. Southeast area already has highest number of asthma related emergency calls, not to mention the other health problems. Notes it's not just physical health, but mental health as well.

City report recently showed the south and west side air quality is already over-burdened by polluting industries. Why is it acceptable for companies to relocate from Lincoln Park to the southeast side and poison people there?

"The mayor has been talking about equity a lot lately" but not taking action on this shows that this is all a bunch of words, says Elizabeth Lalasz from @NationalNurses #DenyThePermit #StopGeneralIron

Alejandra C., a sophomore from Washington H.S. says "I need my community to feel safe as much as I need Mayor Lightfoot and Dr. Arwady to #DenyThePermit." Announces one-day solidarity hunger strike with other students on Thursday.

Cheryl Johnson from People for Community Recovery notes that this is a fight she's been waging for 35 years, but the actions (or inaction) from the Lightfoot administration has made the environmental racism very explicit.

Alfredo Romo from @N4EJchicago is a cancer survivor who is speaking to the frustration of gaslighting from the city as they continue to allow polluters from setting up in communities of color. "Stop forcing these families from choosing their family's health or a dirty job."

Lara Compton from Clean the North Branch talks about the fight to get General Iron out of the north side after hundreds of violations and the demand that it would not be moved into another area #ComplyOrGoodbye

"If this move is permitted it is yet another example of environmental racism with the Mayor in support of this behavior." #DenyThePermit #StopGeneralIron

Kimberly Wasserman from @LVEJO talks about getting into this fight years ago because her kid couldn't breathe, and here she is again with her kids still struggling to breathe.

"Why is that our community residents have had to become community scientists? The reality is that for the city, Black and brown lives continue to be expendable." #DenyThePermit #StopGeneralIron

"Don't believe what the city is shoveling. Look at what the community is showing you...I struggle with a city that tells us they know what's best for us. How can we trust the same administration that got us into these problems to get us out? We can't" Kimberly W. from @LVEJO

.@LoTargos is a public health scientist and talks about the inherent right of all humans to have clean air and water to live and breathe. "Justice delayed is justice denied." Says its shameful the Lightfoot administration is echoing the same science denialism of the Trump admin.

Cook County Commissioner @BrandonCCD1 announces he will also participate in a solidarity hunger strike over the next couple of days to stand up for the lives lost due to environmental racism over the decades.

"To deny the opportunity for families to have clean air and the ability to breathe is unconscionable. To prioritize another side of the city over the other is racist and disturbing." @BrandonCCD1 #DenyThePermit #StopGeneralIron

Cook County Cmsr @AlmaAnaya7th talks about growing up in the 10th ward and seeing the impact on siblings from environmental racism. "Stand here in solidarity with you all & extremely proud that this community is uniting to say communities of color do not deserve this treatment."

Rosa Esquivel from @PilsenAlliance says as an immigrant from Guatemala she is no stranger to this fight. "It's always Black, brown and Indigenous peoples most affected. We are always fighting for our lives." Elected officials need to stop siding with polluters #StopGeneralIron

Final speaker is one of the newest hunger striker, 19 y.o. William Guerrero (aka KiD), announces two others will be joining the hunger strike as well "Imagine the space that the area could be used for. The city would rather invest in a polluter than our community." #DenyThePermit

After being challenged to a one-day solidarity fast by one of the hunger strikers, KiD decided to join them "Pilsen stands with you." #DenyThePermit #StopGeneralIron

The new hunger strikers brings the total up to 10 individuals who are starving themselves in order to demand the city #EndEnvironmentalRacism and #StopGeneralIron