Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Sierra Club is mobilizing its members across the country to join the tens of thousand expected to participate in the “Families Belong Together” national day of action at more than 600 events in all 50 states. The actions are focused on opposing the separation and detention of immigrant families.
Not only is Trump’s separation policy and immigration policy immoral and inhumane, but it is potentially putting children in further harm’s way through housing them on military bases contaminated with chemicals in the Perfluoroalkyl family (PFAS), as revealed by a report that was delayed for six months by the Trump Administration and Scott Pruitt’s EPA for fear of a ‘public relations nightmare,’ according to the New Republic. This recently-released report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)identified the chemical’s dangerous effects on humans, with exposure linked to kidney and testicular cancer and thyroid disease.
The Sierra Club joins MoveOn, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the ACLU, and many others in national-day-of-action rallies to support immigrants, end family separation and incarceration, reject a border wall and border militarization, and oppose Trump’s xenophobia.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"People arriving in our country seeking a better life deserve to be treated with dignity and fairness, but the Trump administration is using these families as political bargaining chips to push a racist agenda. To make matters worse, Trump is not only causing lasting emotional trauma from family separation, but putting children at risk of toxic chemical exposure from poisoned drinking water as well. On June 30th, we are rising together to reject the militarization of the borderlands and the billion-dollar boondoggle of a border wall and to work to establish a just, humane, and welcoming immigration policy that offers a pathway to citizenship for the thousands of young people who call this country home
“Trump's administration threatens immigrants, workers, women's health, LGBTQ rights, clean air, clean water, climate safeguards, and so much more. It's more important than ever to show that our diverse movement is united for justice. The Sierra Club is in total solidarity with immigrants, communities of color, Muslims, women, and all those who may be threatened under the Trump administration. The struggles to protect our communities and our environment cannot be separated. We are proud to take this opportunity to resist xenophobia and speak up for what's right.”
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.