Rebecca Kling, rebecca.kling@sierraclub.org, 202-495-3059
NORMAN, OK—Earlier this week it was reported that the Cleveland County Democratic Party offices, McKinley Elementary School and the Firehouse Arts Center in Norman, Oklahoma, had been the target of Nazi graffiti, echoing similar acts of vandalism discovered last week in Oklahoma City. Hundreds of Norman residents and elected officials attended last night's Strike Back with Love rally, as did many Sierra Club members. The Sierra Club as a whole, and the Norman-based Red Earth Group, condemns this hateful display of racism, anti-semitism, vandalism, and bigotry.
In response Adrienne Gautier, Chair of the Red Earth Group of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“As an organization committed to social justice and racial equity, the Sierra Club vehemently condemns the racist and anti-semitic acts of hatred targeting the people of Norman. Our members are committed to working across racial, ethnic, and religious divides. These acts of vandalism do nothing but fan the flames of bigotry while our country and our city strive to heal and grow. The environment is shared by all people, and the Sierra Club represents a broad coalition from many different backgrounds; an attack on Jewish communities and communities of color is an attack on us all. We will not be intimidated by actions designed to deter progress, and will continue to fight for a protected natural world that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.The Sierra Club looks forward to future conversations and organizing opportunities to keep issues of social and racial justice a priority in our communities, and in the environmental movement as a whole.”
##
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.