WEST PALM BEACH–In response to the beginning of yet another pre-harvest sugar field burning season on October 1, the Stop The Burn-Go Green Campaign held a rally of 75 supporters across the street from the Florida Crystals Corporation headquarters, one of the main targets– along with U.S. Sugar and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, and multiple electeds being the others–to send a direct message to all who are complicit in the toxic, racist, outdated practice that causes an estimated 1-6 deaths every year in South Florida.
Every rally speaker lives in a community directly impacted by the toxic smoke and ashfall and challenged the current harvesting system, fear-mongering, misinformation, and inhumanity perpetrated by those who prop up the status quo:
Steve Messam, Belle Glade resident and Senior Pastor of First Church of God in South Bay: “We are tired of being marginalized, underestimated, and ignored when it comes to our suffering from the effects of sugarcane burning in the Glades. We are on the verge of our annual “environmental storm” called sugarcane burning that will rain toxic smoke and ash on us for the next 6-8 months.”
Christine Louis-Jeune, Belle Glade resident and student at Florida A&M University: “I think it’s critical to remind big corporations that our community is taking notes when our needs are disregarded. Let us remind you of the huge health disparities between bipoc low income communities and white wealthier communities.”
Kil’Mari Phillips, student at Glades Central High School and South Bay resident: “We are fighting for Green Harvesting to make a better home, so fewer people feel pressure to leave to build a future.” Kil’Mari also read a poem titled “Warning!” by Robert Anthony Gibbons, the “Poet of Belle Glade,” written on September 22 especially for the event.
Robert Mitchell, Belle Glade resident and Founder of Muck City Black Lives Matter: “Belle Glade’s slogan is ‘her soil is her fortune,’ but in reality, it is her soil and her people who are her fortune. It's time for Big Sugar to truly recognize the value of our people, this is life and death for our community and that’s why we are here today to let the industry know we deserve better!”
Colin Walkes, Pahokee former Mayor and current resident of Pahokee: “Today marks the beginning of yet another harvesting season, making it clear that Florida Crystals, US Sugar, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the US Congress place no value on our lives or livelihoods.”
Elaine Lavallee, resident of Indiantown in Martin County: “Many of the 1,200 55+ residents of my community suffer from medical issues that make them unable to tolerate the smoke and ash, so instead of being able to enjoy a lovely winter day, they must immediately stop whatever they’re doing and rush home and close all windows to keep out the smoke.”
Jody Young, resident of Wellington in Palm Beach County: “In Wellington, we also get the smoke smell and have to wipe the ash off our cars. That means we are breathing the poison into our lungs as well. I fail to understand how most of our elected officials and candidates in this county can look in the mirror each day and stay silent about burning, but that's on them.”
South Bay resident Kina Phillips: “An injustice to one community is an injustice to all communities. I am fighting to ensure my children can have a brighter, healthier future here in the Glades.”
Steve Messam added: “Our hearts are with our friends in Glades County, who could not join us today, but also suffer through the burns from October to May, and now have the added burden of Hurricane Ian impacts.”
In support of the people of the Glades, musician Dane Myers joined the rally to perform his song “Clouds of Different Colors” from his rap-umentary of the same name.
OTHER PHOTOS/GRAPHICS/VIDEOS:
Sign “Warning: 8 months of danger”
BACKGROUND:
Recent research estimates between 1 to 6 people die each year across South Florida from exposure to sugarcane field burning pollution. These threats to the health, quality of life and local economies of all impacted communities in Florida are completely unnecessary given the readily available alternative of burn-free green harvesting. The list of complicit actors goes well beyond the confines of the sugar producers, and includes local, state, and federal level elected officials. For more information go to our Stop Sugar Field Burning Now campaign website or to our Facebook page.
Contacts: Steve Messam, steve@stevemessam.com, 989-400-4225
Patrick Ferguson, patrick.ferguson@sierraclub.