TN-Sen: Sierra Club Endorses Environmental Justice Champion Marquita Bradshaw

MEMPHIS, TN - The Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club today announced its endorsement of Marquita Bradshaw for the 2020 U.S. Senate election in Tennessee. 

"Marquita Bradshaw is a champion for climate and environmental justice who will be an outstanding Senator representing Tennessee," said Sierra Club National President Ramon Cruz. "The Sierra Club knows Marquita, and that’s why we know she will do everything in her power to protect Tennessee’s families’ health, air and water, and build a clean energy economy that works for all Tennesseans.” 

Given the current administration’s continued threats to our clean air and water and public lands, it is more important than ever to elect environmental champions like Marquita. Marquita has been fighting for social and environmental justice her whole life, beginning with her work to found the community group Youth Terminating Pollution. More recently, she has been a local champion fighting against toxic pollution from the Memphis Defense Depot Superfund site in her neighborhood.

IN RESPONSE TO THE SIERRA CLUB ENDORSEMENT, MARQUITA BRADSHAW RELEASED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

“As the first U.S. Senate candidate in U.S. history to utilize Environmental Justice Principles to shape a people’s platform of healthy and safe communities, I’m proud to receive the Sierra Club endorsement. We are at a pivotal point in our history, where what we do in our physical environment will determine the health of our nation. Pollution is an internal and external threat to our national security. Implementing the investments to resolve the climate crisis will strengthen our legacy of safe and healthy communities for all with cleaner air, water, and soil.”

"We are deeply grateful to Marquita for her work as a leader and member of our state chapter’s executive committee and for her lifelong work fighting for environmental justice here in Memphis,” said Sierra Club National Board Member and longtime Memphis environmental justice organizer and activist Rita Harris "She is a true environmental champion who will fight to protect Tennessee’s clean air, clean water, our climate, and natural treasures."

Along with the endorsement, the Sierra Club will lend its volunteer strength to Bradshaw's campaign.  

"We pledge to do all we can to help ensure Marquita is elected," said Scott Banbury, the Tennessee Chapter’s Conservation Programs Coordinator. "Sierra Club volunteers across Tennessee will contact voters on Marquita’s behalf and speak to the public about her exemplary environmental record. We look forward to a victory for Marquita on election night and to her fight for the environment as a U.S. Senator.”