Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org or 202.670.5585
WASHINGTON, DC - Environmental Justice champion Reverend Lennox Yearwood posted to Huffington Post today and described in graphic detail how he was “assaulted, roughed up, and detained” by a police officer in Washington, D.C. while attempting to cross the street near the National Mall during the Science March on Saturday. Yearwood was slammed against a food truck and accused of being “on drugs,” before being briefly detained and then released.
In response to Yearwood’s experience, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“The violation of Rev. Yearwood by a police officer should be immediately investigated. We all know that something like this would never have happened to me, as a white man, while simply walking on the street at the peaceful Science March in Washington and the fact that it happened to Rev. Yearwood is an injustice, plain and simple. The Sierra Club stands by our friend and colleague Rev. Yearwood.
“African Americans and other people of color should not be at risk of bodily harm and mental distress for exercising their First Amendment right to peaceably assemble. One thing is certain: I’ll be marching alongside Rev. Yearwood and countless more next weekend at the Peoples Climate March in solidarity not just for clean air, clean water, and the future of our planet, but for an America where everyone from every community is treated fairly and can peacefully demonstrate without fear of harassment and profiling.”
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