News Summary
Over 50 residents gathered at the Edney Innovation Center to promote social change regarding environmental injustices. The event, hosted by SURJ, aimed to empower community activism against systemic pollution affecting marginalized groups. Discussions highlighted the impacts of environmental racism, with major concerns surrounding pollution from military bases and the necessity for legislative reforms. Participants emphasized solidarity among diverse activist groups as essential for fostering impactful change.
Chattanooga, Tennessee – Over 50 community members gathered at the Edney Innovation Center on Sunday for a discussion aimed at promoting social change in the face of ongoing environmental injustices. The event, organized by the Chattanooga Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) group, centered around the theme “Protect and Resist,” highlighting the importance of community activism in combating systemic issues facing local populations.
The co-founder of SURJ emphasized that the meeting’s objective was to empower individuals from a variety of backgrounds to actively participate in making a difference within their communities. Representatives from diverse activist groups attended, demonstrating the necessity of solidarity among different factions to foster impactful movements within Chattanooga.
The gathering took place in the wake of significant news regarding the local government. Carol Berz, the most senior member of the Chattanooga City Council, recently passed away at the age of 85 from natural causes. Berz, who served a fourth term on the council after winning reelection in 2021, was a well-respected resident of Brainerd Hills. Her contributions to local governance and community engagement have been widely recognized.
Mariah Franklin, a local journalist, provided context for Chattanooga’s activism landscape. She highlighted the systemic environmental racism evident in Tennessee, where low-income communities of color bear the brunt of pollution. This issue has persistent roots in historical racism, which has left Black residents exposed to 56% more toxic air per capita compared to their contributions, while white residents endure 17% less pollution than they produce.
The impact of environmental injustices in Tennessee has reached alarming levels. For instance, Memphis has been designated as the asthma capital of the United States due to a high number of substandard housing structures contributing to health risks, including asthma. Additionally, in Dickson County, waste facilities are often situated next to predominantly Black neighborhoods, further illustrating patterns of environmental racism.
Pollution generated from military bases in Tennessee poses additional health risks to surrounding communities. Notably, Arnold Air Force Base has left a troubling legacy; the base is responsible for contamination of local drinking water with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to the long-term use of firefighting foam. The contamination levels have been recorded as high as 175,000 parts per trillion (ppt), which exceeds safe limits by an alarming 2,500 times.
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, which was developed from a military training facility, has also revealed significant levels of PFAS contamination in its water supply, with detected levels reaching up to 34,800 ppt. Approximately 188,000 residents served by Tennessee American Water are now grappling with the health repercussions of contamination linked to military activities.
The legal and regulatory landscape surrounding environmental justice in Tennessee presents considerable challenges for communities of color. Existing public laws frequently fail to provide sufficient protections, enabling corporations to pollute predominantly Black neighborhoods while often facing reduced fines and penalties. This systemic imbalance perpetuates environmental injustices and places a heavier burden on marginalized communities.
The meeting at the Edney Innovation Center emphatically underlined the urgent need for collective action among residents of Chattanooga to address these ongoing issues. Participants discussed strategies for mobilizing resources and awareness to combat the harmful effects of pollution and advocate for systemic reforms in legislation that currently enable environmental racism.
As community members left the meeting, the shared sentiment conveyed through their interactions echoed a commitment to challenge the status quo and press for change toward a healthier, more equitable environment for all residents of Chattanooga.
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Reviving Idealism: Impact of Young Activists in Politics
Additional Resources
- NewsChannel9: Chattanooga SURJ Hosts Meeting
- Wikipedia: Environmental Justice
- Times Free Press: Carol Berz
- Google Search: Environmental Racism Tennessee
- NewsChannel9: Racial Disparities in Justice System
- Google Scholar: Systemic Racism Tennessee
- Local 3 News: Robbery Victim Near Eastgate
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Racial Disparity
Author: STAFF HERE CHATTANOOGA WRITER
The CHATTANOOGA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREChattanooga.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga Oktoberfest, and Moon River Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Chattanooga, plus leading businesses in manufacturing, insurance, and utilities that power the local economy such as Volkswagen Chattanooga, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and EPB. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREKnoxville.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
