WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Our 2025 policy agenda is out! Check out the key campaigns and initiatives that we're fighting for in 2025 at https://lnkd.in/eGnKVQe5 Our fight for environmental justice at the city, state, and federal level in 2025 is centered around these key areas: ➡ Funding A Just and Equitable Future ➡ Accountability and Public Participation ➡ Clean Air ➡ Energy Justice ➡ Healthy Homes ➡ Extreme Heat ➡ Sustainable Land Use ➡ Toxics A few of our priority campaigns including #NYHEAT, #cumulativeimpacts, #BeautyJustice, #CommunityLandAct, and #ExtremeHeat, are highlighted! For the full list of our campaigns, including background, where we're at now, and what we're planning to do in 2025 to advance justice and equity for low-income people and communities of color, read out full agenda at https://lnkd.in/eGnKVQe5

🏵️#BlackHistory Joy, Futures, Justice - today, tomorrow, always.🏵️ ➡️ Using illegal Executive Orders, funding freezes, and prejudiced tactics to push out core government staff across agencies, the Trump administration is waging a war on equity. Despite efforts by the administration to spin false narratives, environmental justice IS ESSENTIAL to build a healthy, resilient future by addressing our nation’s 400-plus years of systemic racism. 💡 People across the U.S. know the truth, with an Environmental Protection Network poll showing 72% of Trump voters and 80% of all voters – support increasing federal funding to communities disproportionately harmed by air and water pollution. 💯Supported by an overwhelming body of scientific evidence, the reality is: There are disproportionate negative impacts from pollution and climate change on people of color. Because of this, communities of color have the highest rates of asthma, cancer, childhood lead poisoning, and far too many other health conditions related to pollution. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏼✊🏽We ask you to stand with us during #BlackHistoryMonth as we fight this war on equity and the administration’s attempts to embed systemic racism in its agenda. Together, we can create a sustainable, healthy, resilient future. 🌟Support our work at http://weact.org/donate - We’re not going back!🌟

We need Carl Heastie and the New York State Assembly Majority pass A1502 and keep #PFAS and other #ToxicChemicals out of #MenstrualProducts. Federal rollbacks are putting #WomensHealth in jeopardy, so #NewYork needs to step up! Read: https://bit.ly/4hKh4W8

🎂 Happy birthday Rosa Parks! Did you know today is also #TransitEquityDay? Here's why, what we're doing, and how you can help! 🌟Rosa Parks was an activist whose civil disobedience on a public bus created a massive moment for civil rights. She and fellow activists were protesting racial segregation and Jim Crow in Montgomery, Alabama’s public transit. In honor of Rosa Parks’ bravery, Transit Equity Day continues the work by making sure everyone has access to safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable public transportation. 🌟WE ACT has a history of making sure communities can breathe easier with less pollution from transportation. For example, WE ACT got the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) to invest in cleaner buses and depots through our Dirty Diesel Campaign, which helped reduce MTA bus tailpipe emissions by 95% citywide. “Americans who are lower-income, Black or Hispanic, immigrants or under 50 are especially likely to use public transportation on a regular basis.” (PEW) Right now, there are still many barriers to accessibility, and air pollution along with climate crisis driving emissions are still mainly coming from the transportation sector. WHAT YOU CAN DO: ➡️ADVOCATE FOR INCREASING CLEANER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS & ACCESSIBLE CITY PLANNING ➡️SUPPORT PLANNING & IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSPORT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE IN MIND ➡️LET COMMUNITIES LEAD & ENGAGE ON TRANSPORTATION DECISION-MAKING ➡️ SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE WE ACT! >> http://weact.org/donate 🔁 SHARE THIS POST!!

The Trump administration continues its assault on environmental justice by targeting Black & Latino communities which are more vulnerable to pollution and the real-time impacts of the climate crisis. Read this The Associated Press article outlining how Trump's policies will affect these communities and more. In response, our executive director and co-founder Peggy Shepard shares: “They [these communities] were finally beginning to get support at the EPA and at the White House and this is a big step back for the communities who are front line to some of these issues.”

*UPDATE* The Trump Administration rescinded its initial actions to freeze federal funds after outcry from people across the U.S., public officials, organizations, and a court stay. WE ACT for Environmental Justice shares why this attempted Trump federal funding freeze is illegal and harmful. READ & SHARE: https://lnkd.in/eUKsrd4u

*BREAKING* WE ACT for Environmental Justice responds to attempted Trump federal funding freeze. READ & SHARE: https://lnkd.in/eUKsrd4u Leslie G. Fields, Chief Federal Officer at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, “The role of our government is to provide a reflection of the needs and rights of the people. The Trump administration’s executive actions, however, are outrageously unconstitutional and betray millions of people across the country. This attempt to force total control over all aspects of the federal government from organization of agency offices and directives, staffing, and now funding is an unveiled effort to realize an agenda that aims to undo decades of work that has enshrined civil rights and environmental justice, and to remove protections for people of color and low-income as well as other vulnerable groups. They take aim at our communities, while likewise injuring millions of people who rely on federal funds for healthcare, education, environmental protection, and thousands of essential programs. After decades of systemic underfunding and prejudicial neglect, our communities and others were finally being provided a long-overdue fair shot to find justice. The enormity of the ramifications of these actions are difficult to quantify, but our response is clear: this violates the law and the Constitution, and we will not surrender our rights or our mission to protect environmental justice communities.”

⚠️ Trump’s gutting of federal DEI programs will hit rural poor communities via CNN READ & SHARE: https://lnkd.in/eYYSJauU 📢 In only one week, the Trump administration has made clear that their priority is to dismantle hard-fought for civil rights and environmental justice, putting millions of people across the country at serious risk. "The impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable and historically marginalized communities are disproportionate. Disadvantaged communities are often located in vulnerable areas and face heightened risks from heatwaves, floods, droughts and storms." As our executive director Peggy Shepard shares, “By instituting executive orders that really failed to address these issues, they are, in effect, making systemic racism a national policy." We will not let these attacks remove the rights our communities have to a safe and healthy life and future. Join us -> post a comment sharing why you're committed to fighting for environmental justice below.

🗣️Check out our new #UptownChats episode where we talk congestion pricing! 🚗 🎧Listen Here: https://lnkd.in/gWB-b98Q

WE ACT for Environmental Justice is hiring a Senior Project Manager to lead community engagement efforts for the EJNYC Plan and drive environmental justice initiatives across New York City. Feel free to check out the job description and apply!