When we take a look at the phenomenon of environmental injustice, do we even consider how environmental racism is linked to crime.
In Michigan, with all the lead water conversations, first Flint and now Benton Harbor… the focus has mostly been about the physical effects of lead and how it can limit learning. The exposure to this toxin affects brain development in a way that reduces academic achievement and even increases criminal behavior.
Today we want to bring awareness to the effects of lead exposure on criminal behavior. The goal is to bring understanding on how doing more to remove lead could not make people healthier, it will also improve public safety.
Since environmental injustice is frequently a process and product of state-sanctioned institutional violence against communities of color (in the form of polluted air, land, water and human bodies), then what are the implications of reframing it as a practice of treating those populations as inherently criminal and deserving of punishment?
Studies have shown that exposure to lead as a child increased school suspensions and juvenile delinquency, which opens the door to the school-to-prison-pipeline.
This week on Turning A Moment Into A Movement…2 of the State of Michigan top Environmental Justice Warriors will be our guest:
-Rev Ed Pinkney of Benton Harbor
-Vincent Martin of Detroit
Topic: Advocating for Environmental Justice,
-How environmental racism impacts our communities.
-How can we move from the most impacted to healing
So join Jay Love Host, representing the Justice for Gerard Movement
....along with Attorney Hugo Mack and Rev Tia Littlejohn …..for this very much needed conversation.
To learn more about The Justice for Gerard Movement....go to: www.change.org/Justice4Gerard
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