Author: Hip Hop Caucus

The new data released by Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign underscores how planned expansion of the petrochemical industry will heighten risks across the U.S. 

New York, NY – Today, in the wake of Congress’ first hearing on the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Beyond Petrochemicals campaign released new data showing similar disasters are happening all over the United States. 

The data shows more than 90 accidents that released hazardous materials took place between 2017 and 2022. 

“The East Palestine train derailment is a petrochemical disaster,” said Eric de Place, Interim Director of the Beyond Petrochemicals campaign. “The sad reality is these types of disasters are unfortunately common and happening across the country on a regular basis.”

Petrochemicals like vinyl chloride are known carcinogens that adversely impact human health. Those living within 10 miles of a petrochemical facility face risk of cancer and other health issues according to a 2020 study. Acute exposure to vinyl chloride can cause loss of consciousness, lung and kidney irritation, and after sustained exposure, a rare form of liver cancer. 

As the world transitions to clean and renewable energy, oil and gas companies have found a lifeline in petrochemicals and are making massive plans to build out new and existing petrochemical facilities across Texas, the Ohio River Valley, and Louisiana. By 2050, petrochemical applications are expected to account for nearly half of the growth in oil demand.

“Petrochemicals are a triple threat to our health, the environment, and our progress toward mitigating climate change. Communities that live next door to petrochemical manufacturing hubs in Ohio, Louisiana and Texas already acutely feel the impacts of petrochemical production. Further expansion of this industry ensures more communities will become sacrifice zones due to petrochemicals,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign Chair and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus. “We need to put people over pollution. That begins by holding petrochemical companies accountable for the devastation they are wreaking on people and our climate.”

Petrochemicals like vinyl chloride are known carcinogens that adversely impact human health. Those living within 10 miles of a petrochemical facility face risk of cancer and other health issues according to a 2020 study. Acute exposure to vinyl chloride can cause loss of consciousness, lung and kidney irritation, and after sustained exposure, a rare form of liver cancer. 

As the world transitions to clean and renewable energy, oil and gas companies have found a lifeline in petrochemicals and are making massive plans to build out new and existing petrochemical facilities across Texas, the Ohio River Valley, and Louisiana. By 2050, petrochemical applications are expected to account for nearly half of the growth in oil demand.

“Petrochemicals are a triple threat to our health, the environment, and our progress toward mitigating climate change. Communities that live next door to petrochemical manufacturing hubs in Ohio, Louisiana and Texas already acutely feel the impacts of petrochemical production. Further expansion of this industry ensures more communities will become sacrifice zones due to petrochemicals,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign Chair and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus. “We need to put people over pollution. That begins by holding petrochemical companies accountable for the devastation they are wreaking on people and our climate.”

“Petrochemicals are inherently unsafe,” said Anaïs Peterson, Earthworks. “People living on the frontlines from Appalachia to the Gulf Coast know how harmful even standard operations of this industry are. What happened in East Palestine is not an isolated incident, but a manifestation of the dangers that the petrochemical industry poses to communities across the country – from extraction and transportation to production. We need to learn from the ongoing crisis on this derailment not just to stop the expansion of the petrochemical industry but also take meaningful action to protect communities living under the constant threat of existing petrochemical infrastructure.”

“Profit-driven toxic industries with little to no oversight are public health threats,” Yvette Arellano, Founder and Director, Fenceline Watch. “Allowing petrochemicals to expand their footprint promotes the sense that our communities are disposable and up for sale to the highest bidder. Our future is at stake. We need meaningful action on petrochemicals to address the violation history, hazardous work conditions, and the growing bills communities are left to pay for medical attention and funeral costs that the industry produces.”

WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. issued the following statement in support of the upcoming week of action against Cop City in Atlanta, Georgia:

“Hip Hop Caucus joins with activists, organizers, faith leaders and the Atlanta community who are calling for a stop to Cop City, defending the Weelaunee Forest in Atlanta, Georgia, and honoring the life of environmental activist Tortuguita who was killed by Atlanta police in January. Hip Hop Caucus is proud to support the upcoming week of action to stop Cop City, for it is with all of our collective power that we can ensure that Cop City will never be built.  

Police violence and environmental activism are intimately connected not only through the power dynamics of economics, but also in the way they disproportionately threaten the ability for Black and Brown people to breathe and thrive. Replacing the nation’s largest urban forest with the largest militarized police training facility in North America would be a resounding moral and strategic failure felt for generations to come.  

For years, people have made it clear that they do not want Cop City. Its existence would both intensify violence against Black and Brown communities and exacerbate climate and environmental issues like flooding, heatwaves, and pollution in Atlanta communities. The notions that increased policing makes us safer and that deforestation does not harm our environment are erroneous and cannot stand.  

Hip Hop Caucus will continue to fight for our health, our safety, and our planet, and we won’t rest until the voices of the people are heard.”

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

Hip Hop Caucus extends love and on-the-ground support to all impacted by the train derailment and burning of toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio. The profound health outcomes of this toxic chemical exposure to residents and those in surrounding areas are yet to be determined, but we know for sure that this catastrophic failure was fueled by corporate greed and disregard for our climate, our environment, and the American people. When polluting our air, land and water is an accepted cost for financial gains, we have failed ourselves and shunted our future.

There is no safe way to produce, transport, or recycle toxic chemicals in communities. Petrochemicals, like vinyl chloride, are produced mainly in low-income communities and Black and Brown communities. This incident, which could have been avoided, is a signal to the vulnerabilities we will face if petrochemical production continues its rapid growth.

It is imperative that we not only listen to and support labor workers so that their jobs and our infrastructure systems are safe, but that we let go of the false narrative that the mass production of toxic chemicals is nonpoisonous and necessary. True leadership in all places of government, companies, organizations and communities demands that we address the realities that brought us to this point – again.

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

I ended Grammy night like most people in my network — feeling like the most powerful woman in the industry was once again denied Grammy’s biggest honor. But when Dee Barnes gave her reaction to that night in an interview with Rolling Stone, I felt ashamed that a hip-hop pioneer who was erased after she was attacked by Dr. Dre hadn’t been more on my mind during an awards show that specifically celebrated hip-hop.

Read more in The Grio.

The brutal murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis police officers is a harsh reminder of the continued and extensive existence of corrupt individuals in law enforcement and the detrimental impact this has on the fiber of policing. Corruption has no color. America’s criminal justice system is not just for Black Americans and we must face this reality. The swift charges brought by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and the firing of the police officers by the Memphis Chief are respectable and appreciated. However, the damage is done. There is no justice for the loss of Tyre’s life. He was a son, a father and a friend whose death undoubtedly leaves a hole in the hearts of many. Hip Hop Caucus offers all who knew and loved Tyre our deepest sympathy. We will continue to honor his life by advocating for him and the countless others who have been killed by immoral, biased, dishonest or just bad cops. The urgent need for alternative methods of policing such as replacing police with unarmed, civilian traffic responders, proper allocation of resources, and increased police accountability cannot be ignored. Elected officials at every level must make the necessary policy changes to save lives.

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

Hip Hop Caucus is grieving the loss of activist Manuel Esteban Paez Terán aka Tortuguita, who was killed by Atlanta police on January 18 for protesting deforestation and the construction of a law enforcement training facility known as ‘Cop City.’ The killing of Manuel is a sickening reminder of the risks that people of color face when advocating for our health, our safety, and our planet. Environmental and climate racism, and police brutality are tools of white supremacy and are intrinsically linked. We join with those who are protesting this tragic incident of state-sanctioned violence as we honor Manuel’s life.

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

Once again a California community has been torn apart by a gunman, just days after the mass shooting in Monterey Park. Our sincerest condolences are with the families, friends, colleagues, neighbors and loved ones of those killed. Gun reform and the Second Amendment can co-exist. It is imperative for Congress to prioritize gun reform legislation, strengthening current laws, closing existing loopholes and banning assault weapons. As we mourn the victims of this horrific tragedy, we will continue to advocate for real, policy-based solutions.

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

Hip Hop Caucus is deeply saddened by the horrific mass shooting in Monterey Park, California following a Lunar New Year celebration. Ongoing violence in and against communities of color bring layers of fear, anxiety, and in instances like this, overwhelming sadness to what should be joyous occasions. Gun violence continues to wreak havoc on our society and with 33 mass shootings already occurring in the U.S. in 2023, we need our elected leaders to enact gun reform now. We stand in solidarity with the AAPI community and our hearts are with the survivors and all those affected.

About Hip Hop Caucus 

Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.

WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. issued the following statement in response to President Biden signing the Respect for Marriage Act into law:

“Hip Hop Caucus applauds the bipartisan efforts to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, landmark federal legislation that recognizes same-sex marriages and interracial marriages as legal unions. The right to marry whom you love is a true embodiment of the right to privacy and belongs to every American regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or gender identity. 

Hip Hop Caucus calls on Congress to continue expanding LGBTQIA+ rights and protections that not only ensure equality under the law, but also safety from harassment and attacks of violence. Hip Hop Caucus will continue to advocate for progress as we celebrate this historic milestone for love.”