Richmond, Calif. rallies against environmental racism

On Nov. 10, over 150 people rallied in Richmond, Calif. against the billion-dollar oil corporation Chevron. The North

Photo: Indybay.org

Richmond community has been subject to a wide variety of chemical assaults from the Chevron refinery for decades. Many residents believe that Chevron is a primary cause of the high rate of breast cancer and respiratory problems in the community.

The rally, organized by the West County Toxics Coalition, spoke out against the environmental racism that has plagued the community. Local activists and community members marched for two miles as delegations from different neighborhoods joined. Chanting “Chevron expansion, Chevron pollution, we say no,” the marchers were unfazed by the rainy weather or the confrontational police.

Chevron, the largest oil refinery in the western part of the Americas, contributes about 25 percent or more of the city of Richmond’s tax base. This translates into a strong hold over city politics.

A study by West County Toxics Coalition and Communities for a Better Environment called “Richmond at Risk” found that the 100 percent of all major industrial operations were located in communities where 70 to 70 percent of the population was African American and where a quarter of the people live below the poverty line. This is a clear case of environmental racism.

As the spirited crowd rallied outside the refinery blocking its main entrance Dr. Henry Clark, executive director of West County Toxics Coalition, promised Chevron a true “climate change” if they continue with their expansion proposal. The crowd pledged to resist yet another onslaught by a system driven by profits.