Courtney Bourgoin, courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org, (202) 495-3022
San Diego, CA-- Today, President Trump visited border wall prototypes in San Diego. Trump lied about the wall’s effectiveness, lied about Californians’ support for the border wall and insulted the governor and residents of California. Still, Trump has signaled that the community will be the first for robust border wall construction and prototypes are currently under construction in Imperial and Calexico. The visit came despite Californians being a large part of the Trump resistance and a large majority opposing the border wall. Just two days before the visit, Trump once again insisted that Mexico pay for the wall though Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and many other Mexican officials have rejected repeatedly.
In response to the visit, Sierra Club released the following statements:
“Trump’s visit proves he doesn’t understand our communities nor the environmental threats of a wall here. I’ve seen the damage border wall causes in my backyard and these prototypes will make a bad problem even worse. People in my community do not want a wall though Trump continually lies about that. He’s pushing an agenda that harms our families, destroys our environment and is rooted in injustice and racism,” said Jill Holslin of the Sierra Club Borderlands Campaign.
“Trump’s statements today in San Diego demonstrate his racist misconceptions that drive this anti-immigrant, anti-environment campaign for a multi-billion dollar border wall. Borderlands communities are some of the safest in our country and this fear mongering will have dangerous and irreversible consequences in the places we call home if this wall is constructed,” said Ruben Arizmendi, chair of the San Diego Sierra Club and attorney.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.