Sharon Lavigne, a champion against industrial pollution and environmental racism in St. James Parish, will testify at a hearing of the U.S. House Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Wednesday morning, Nov. 20, 2019. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM Central/10:00 AM Eastern.

Lavigne, who founded the community advocacy group Rise St. James, accepted an invitation from lawmakers to testify about petrochemical pollution in the state of Louisiana. Other community representatives about other pollution and environmental justice crises, including coal ash waste in Puerto Rico, intensive livestock feeding practices in North Carolina and tribal relocation forced by climate change in Alaska. Lavigne will be joined on the trip by Rise members Gayle Felton, Gail LeBoeuf and Barbara Washington, all of whom have proven to be determined and impassioned advocates in the campaign against deadly industrial pollution in Cancer Alley.

Lavigne is a lifelong resident of St. James Parish and has become a highly effective organizer and spokesperson in the fight against petrochemical pollution. Her testimony this week serves as a powerful opportunity to bring our message against polluting industries, regulatory capture and wasteful industrial tax incentive policies to lawmakers in the nation’s capital.

Availabilities:

• Tuesday morning at 9:15 AM Central, Nov. 19, we plan to interview Lavigne and her group on Facebook Live, prior to their flight from New Orleans. Find that video at our Facebook Page.
• Reporter interviews are also available upon request and dependent on scheduling.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear one of Louisiana’s foremost organizers against environmental injustice speak truth to power in Washington. Contact LABB Communications Director Tom Wright for more details at 504-330-9899 and tom@labucketbrigade.org .