Justin J. Pearson: Doing Nothing Was Not an Option

"The climate crisis that we have now, the environmental justice crises that we have now, are because there was not an investment or concern about the communities that are feeling the brunt of these illnesses when these facilities were being created, when these plans were being made. If we had cared about climate change, if we had cared about the environment, 40/50 years ago, when Valero Energy Corporation was planning to build in SW Memphis, we probably wouldn't have the cancer rates that we have now. If people had cared about all of these toxic release inventory facilities that surround our community, we wouldn't be dealing with the consequences of environmental degradation and environmental racism that we have now. The reality is that to show that we care, it does require us to show up differently, and that means consistently, persistently rejecting the status quo. "

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Justin J. Pearson is a state representative in Tennessee’s General Assembly, a powerful pipeline fighter who helped to defeat the Byhalia Pipeline through his work with Memphis Community against Pollution, and an activist who has also stood up for educational equity, racial justice, and gun control. Along with Justin Jones, he was one of the two state representatives who were expelled after taking part in a gun control protest at the state capitol. He was reappointed six days later.

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