Destiny Watford from United Workers with protesters at MDE in Baltimore, MD
UPDATE 1/22/16: Charges against the #Incinerator7 have been dropped! Immediately after their trial this week, several representatives from Free Your Voice marched back to MDE to deliver over 2,000 petitions demanding the administration revoke permits for construciton of the largest trash-burning incinerator in the country to be built in South Baltimore. Read more here: https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2016/01/19/charges-against-seven-energy-answers-incinerator-protesters-dropped/
The following is a message about actions to stop the Curtis Bay Incinerator from our partners at Free Your Voice, a human rights committee of United Workers:
Last Tuesday was an intense and powerful display of commitment to our basic human rights.
Nearly 200 people gathered at the Maryland Department of the Environment Headquarters to follow up on the 1000's of Marylanders calling upon MDE to enforce the law regarding the expired construction permit for what could be the largest trash-burning incinerator in the country, which is proposed for South Baltimore (read more here: http://www.unitedworkers.org/maryland_department_of_the_environment_enforce_the_law). The plan was simple - we would form a single file line and one by one we all would drop off hand cut sunflower petitions and comments directly to MDE.
What happened next was shocking. Instead of welcoming residents who have taken the time to participate and express their views on an issue of great concern - MDE locked us out with security posted at the front gate to "greet" us by telling us to go away. We did not go away. Instead we stood strong guided by what drives us - the call for justice. The world is watching Baltimore right now as structural injustices ranging from systemic environmental injustice to police brutality are exposed. And while community members are taking the lead and offering a path forward to these deep challenges - some of our officials, as we experienced yesterday, are digging in their heels and doing their best to ignore the cry for justice.
Last week that cry grew much louder. 7 members were allowed to enter MDE headquarters and speak directly with Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles. The 7 included student leaders Charles Graham and Josh Acevedo as well as Doctor Gwen DuBois. Their demand was clear and has been announced since August to MDE - enforce the law and act on the facts uncovered by MDE regarding the trash burning incinerator's expired permit. Instead, Secretary Grumbles described Energy Answers' interest in continuing the project and was unwilling to make a decision. The 7 found this to be unacceptable and stated that they were prepared to stay until MDE enforced the law. The police were called and all 7 were arrested.
Meanwhile, those locked out stood strong chanting "MDE enforce the law" and "stop the incinerator" as the hours went by. We stayed to support our friends who were willing to make a difficult choice - to sacrifice their freedom - in order to make it clear that we will not stop and that we are not going away until justice is done.
As of now, here's how things stand. All 7 of our friends--the "incinerator 7"--have been released and are awaiting their court dates early next year. The seven recently issued this statement:
We are standing up for Fair Development that puts people at the center of public policy. We engaged in civil disobedience because what we have now in Baltimore City is a failed system which has denied us public safety, housing, decent jobs and has even endangered the air that we breathe.
We are reclaiming and restoring our rights to the land and to the democracy that must control community development. The consequences of silence are too great.
Our communities are made to suffer deep injustices propelled by systemic racism and economic deprivation that results in state sponsored terror of residents, such as Freddie Gray and Tyrone West. We have state allowed systemic exclusion from employment for those with criminal records. We have a state run debt collection system that calls itself a Court of Justice for tenants, and our courts are overrun with higher foreclosure rates than the rest of the country. We have state subsidized economic development that produces poverty wage jobs and sporadic employment. Elected officials refuse to hold employers accountable to hire local residents and ensure living wage jobs. And we have a state system that doesn’t protect our human right to breathe clean air.
We claim and exercise the right to live and breathe clean air, and we demand that the Maryland Department of the Environment act on its mission to protect the health of all Marylanders by ruling that Energy Answers’ trash burning incinerator permit is expired.
The Fairfield and Wagner’s Point Communities where this incinerator is proposed to be built do not exist anymore because of generations of environmental injustice. The Curtis Bay and Brooklyn communities surrounding the trash-burning incinerator are chronically subjected to the highest level of stationary toxic emissions in the State. The people of Curtis Bay and Brooklyn not surprisingly have higher levels of heart disease, respiratory diseases, and lung cancer than Baltimore City averages. As a source of energy, trash burning incineration emits more deadly pollutants including mercury, nitrogen oxides , carbon monoxide and Co2 than even dirty coal. This incinerator has been permitted to emit 1000 pounds of lead and 240 pounds of mercury yearly both of which cause brain damage in children and infants. The incinerator will be located next to two public schools. This injustice has changed the life expectancy of Curtis Bay residents. They have the lowest life expectancy in Baltimore; there is a 19 year gap between residents of Curtis Bay and Fells Point.
Baltimore can turn away from a failed development vision that has endangered the lives of so many and turn towards a Fair Development Future that prioritizes the health, equity, and voice of all residents. We see this future in so many of us who live in Baltimore who reclaim vacant lots and properties to create sustainable farms, develop community land trusts for permanently affordable housing, and call for jobs in recycling and reuse including composting, deconstruction, and renewable energy such as community owned solar.
We are youth, residents, religious leaders, physicians, and social workers, artists, have taken this act of civil disobedience because we refuse to be silent when our lives are at stake. The Maryland Department of the Environment and every city and state agency needs to support the rallying call for a Fair Development Future!
United Workers has set up a website to accept donations to cover legal fees for the Incinerator 7: https://unitedworkers.nationbuilder.com/incinerator_7
In the meantime, our friends have asked that we keep building the pressure on MDE - we know that they are likely to make a decision on whether or not to enforce the law soon. Many of you have been calling and writing emails directly to Secretary Grumbles already and now is the time to keep going. Everyone can reach out directly to Secretary of the Environment Benjamin H. Grumbles at: ben.grumbles@maryland.gov / (410) 537-3084. A quick email, phone call or voice message clearly stating our demand that MDE enforce the law and help community members stop the incinerator shows that Marylanders fully expect that our Department of the Environment live up to its mission to protect the health and environment for ALL Marylanders.
You may also send snail mail to MD Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230.
Finally, the media was there to cover everything that unfolded and shine a bright light on the decision that MDE must make.
Here is excellent coverage from Fern Shen at the Baltimore Brew: https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2015/12/15/incinerator-protesters-arrested-at-mde-headquarters/
You can also see a great video piece from the Real News: http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=15308
Note: In accordance Sierra Club's mission to achieve our goals through all lawful means, Sierra Club was not directly involved with planning or execution of the United Workers' civil disobedience action (a.k.a. -- arrests), although we are humbled by the courage and resolve of those who were.