Author: Hip Hop Caucus

WASHINGTON — The DC Environmental Film Festival recently announced Hip Hop Caucus’ President and CEO, and host of the award-winning climate justice podcast The Coolest Show, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., as the recipient of the Environmental Champion Award for his long-standing environmental and racial justice advocacy.

“It’s an honor to receive this important award at such a crucial time in the fight for climate justice,” said Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. “Hip Hop Caucus has been at the forefront of the fight for climate and racial justice, from our early days organizing along the Gulf Coast during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, to working with our partners to stand up against Big Oil and protect frontline communities. Our work is far from over, and we’ll never stop advocating on behalf of all people impacted by environmental harm.”

A White House Champion of Change for Climate Leadership and Senior Advisor to Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Beyond Petrochemicals campaign, Rev. Yearwood Jr. has launched innovative, national climate campaigns throughout his career. Under his leadership at Hip Hop Caucus, the Gulf Coast Renewal Campaign advocated for justice in response to Hurricane Katrina and the group’s award-winning activism platform, Think 100%, shifted the narrative around fossil fuels.

The festival’s award celebration will include a screening of Hip Hop Caucus’ upcoming short film “Underwater Project,” narrated by comedian Wanda Sykes. The film underscores the coastal urban flooding in the heart of Virginia’s largest economy, shedding light on the urgent need to address environmental justice issues impacting Black communities and the U.S. Naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. 

Rev. Yearwood joins past award winners such as Dr. Jane Goodall and Pulitzer Prize winner, Juliet Eilperin. The event will take place on March 24, 2024 at the Naval Heritage Center in Washington, DC.

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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.

NATIONAL (February 29, 2024) – Today leaders within the environmental justice movement responded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plan to tackle emissions from existing gas plants in a supplemental rulemaking for the “New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel–Fired Electric Generating Units (EGU); Emissions Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Fossil Fuel–Fired Electric Generating Units” rule:

“We are pleased to learn that EPA Administrator Michael Regan and the White House are responding to our individual and collective concerns about the treatment of existing gas plants in the current iteration of its carbon rule proposal. Our organizations have repeatedly sounded an alarm about the lack of environmental justice analysis and cumulative impacts considerations in the proposal, and we see this reconsideration as an important step for allowing a more thoughtful and comprehensive plan for regulating this critical segment of the power sector.

We strongly believe that climate pollution mitigation and environmental justice for communities go hand in hand. Any rulemaking to address the existing gas sector can and must achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gasses while also improving local air quality and the public health of overburdened communities. In addition, a supplemental rulemaking for existing gas plants opens up the possibility of considering a diverse range of policy and practice options, from multiple sources within the Federal family, to improve pollution mitigation and environmental justice outcomes and to respond to the climate crisis.

Our request is that the EPA have a clear timeline and transparent process for proposing and implementing a supplemental rulemaking for existing gas plants as we are prepared to work collaboratively with the Agency on this new phase.”

Signatories:

• Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
• Dr. Ana Baptista, Co-Director of the Tishman Environment & Design Center at The New School and Associate Professor at The New School University.
• Dr. Nicky Sheats, Ph.D, MPP, Esq., Director, Center for the Urban Environment at the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University.
• Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder and Executive Director, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
• Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy and Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University
• Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., President and CEO, Hip Hop Caucus
• Maria Lopez-Nuñez, Deputy Director, Organizing and Advocacy, Ironbound Community Corporation
• Melissa Miles, Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

Narrated by comedian Wanda Sykes, short film explores environmental injustice and redevelopment in sinking Norfolk, VA

WASHINGTON – Hip Hop Caucus is thrilled to announce that its short film “Underwater Projects” has been selected for inclusion in both the Social Justice Now Film Festival and the DC Environmental Film Festival. The thought-provoking film is narrated by comedian Wanda Sykes and sheds light on the urgent need for action to address environmental justice issues impacting marginalized communities in Norfolk, Virginia and across the globe.

“Underwater Projects” takes viewers on a journey into the coastal urban flooding happening in the heart of Virginia’s largest economy. A historically Black public housing community and the local U.S. Naval base are among those grappling with the devastating effects of environmental degradation and climate change. Through comedy, animation, and stunning visuals, the 28-minute film explores the intersecting challenges of rising sea levels, poverty, and systemic environmental injustice, while also highlighting the resilience and activism of frontline communities fighting for a sustainable future.

“It is an honor to have ‘Underwater Projects’ showcased at the Social Justice Now Film Festival and the DC Environmental Film Festival,” said Liz Havstad, co-director of “Underwater Projects” and Managing Director and COO at Hip Hop Caucus. “We hope that this film will spark important conversations about intersectional environmentalism and inspire greater action for environmental justice.” 

The Social Justice Now Film Festival showcases content that confronts racism and heightens awareness of the social and economic issues that negatively affect Black and Brown people in the United States. 

“Underwater Projects” will be screened during the Social Justice Now Film Festival’s ‘Short Film Collection II’ presentation on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 7 p.m. PT at Sony Pictures Entertainment’s studio lot in Culver City. 

The DC Environmental Film Festival is the largest and longest-running environmental film festival in the United States and aims to advance understanding and stewardship of the environment through the power of film. “Underwater Projects” will be screened in Washington, D.C. during this year’s festival which runs March 21-30, 2024.

For more information about the festivals and screening schedules, visit https://www.socialjusticenowfilmfestival.org/films and https://www.dceff.org.

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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 a new report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General highlighting numerous policy violations and operational failures that contributed to nearly 200 suicides by people who were incarcerated, based on a review of 344 deaths in custody from the 2014 to 2021 fiscal years:

“The findings in this new Department of Justice Inspector General’s report are stunning, seemingly avoidable, and yet, unsurprising. Deaths in custody are often occuring and underreported in the United States. The deaths highlighted in this report are a result of systemic failures in our carceral system and are exactly why we are pushing for a check box on the death certificate to declare that a death occurred in custody. It should not be a mystery how many people die in law enforcement custody in the U.S. each year, and collecting accurate and comprehensive data is a first step toward solving this problem.  

Deaths in custody are both a public health emergency and a moral failure. We are encouraged by the American Bar Association’s recent resolution calling for support of the Death in Custody Act Hip Hop Caucus will continue to raise awareness of this issue, push for amending U.S. death certificates to account for deaths in custody, and advocate for transparency and accountability throughout our criminal legal system.”

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Nominations bestowed to investigative series ‘Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast’ and short film on urban flooding ‘Freshwater’

WASHINGTON – Hip Hop Caucus is honored to receive two nominations for original projects as part of the 55th NAACP Image Awards. Hip Hop Caucus’ groundbreaking podcast series, ‘Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast,’ is nominated in the ‘Outstanding Limited Series/Short Form Podcast’ category and Hip Hop Caucus’ Think 100% FILMS executive produced short film ‘Freshwater’ is nominated for ‘Outstanding Short Form Documentary.’

Hosted by expert forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. and human rights scholar Dr. Jay Aronson, ‘Official Ignorance’ aims to shed light on individuals who have died in law enforcement custody and outlines a practical and achievable system for accurately recording and investigating these deaths. 

“We are excited and honored to be nominated for this award,” said ‘Official Ignorance’ podcast co-host, Howard University Chair of Pathology and Hip Hop Caucus board member Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. “Official Ignorance finally gives a critical voice to the issue of death that occurs in the U.S. criminal legal system. Thank you NAACP for recognizing the importance of this work!”

“It is an honor to be nominated,” said ‘Official Ignorance’ podcast co-host and Carnegie Mellon University professor Dr. Jay Aronson. “And I hope that it will increase awareness about our podcast and, more importantly, the issue of deaths in law enforcement custody in the United States.”

‘Freshwater,’ which was created and narrated by filmmaker dream hampton, explores her remembrance of urban flooding in the Midwest and centers adolescence and climate change as themes. ‘Freshwater’ was produced by Pink Gators and was jointly released through The New York Times Op-Docs and PBS POV. 

As dream hampton shared with The New York Times in reflection on ‘Freshwater,’ “The team who made this film is a small cadre, a unit of people who love Detroit and wanted to create a tiny piece of art that wasn’t expected to perform in any particular way. Like a river, ‘Freshwater’ is meant to simply flow.”

Hip Hop Caucus’ Managing Director and COO Liz Havstad said, “We are so proud of these two productions. It’s central to our mission to tell stories that inspire audiences to imagine and fight for a more just and sustainable world. Receiving these nominations is an honor and is affirming that art and activism are powerful together.”

The 55th NAACP Image Awards will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 and will broadcast live on BET and CBS. To cast a vote for the ‘Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast,’ visit vote.naacpimageawards.net. 

To subscribe to ‘Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast’ and for detailed episode information, visit www.officialignorance.com. To watch ‘Freshwater’ and for more information, visit www.freshwatershortfilm.com. 

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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.

The Caucus also celebrates the tireless efforts of frontline groups to push the Administration to stop exports

WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. issued the following statement in response to the Biden Administration’s announcement to pause Liquid Methane (“Natural”) Gas exports:

“This is a momentous decision and a win for the people of planet Earth, aka Turtle Island. The decision to pause and review the economic and environmental impacts of new projects is an acknowledgement of the cries of those first and worst impacted and those hoping for a better future. The intersecting power of young people, frontline groups, and beltway advocates came together to finally show that organized people can make a difference. Delaying and possibly denying further construction of projects like CP2, which would have been one of the largest LNG terminals on the planet, further eroding the Louisiana Gulf coast, is by no means a small thing. So this is a moment for a collective sigh of relief, for celebration and for reflection. We commend the Administration for recognizing the environmental and health harms these projects have imposed on Black and other BIPOC communities for decades. 

However, we can’t rest here. While our collective sit-in at the Department of Energy may be called off for now, Big Oil and their puppets are already gearing up for fights in the media and hearings on Capitol Hill. They’ll say this is just the climate lobby and not the will of the people. They’ll say jobs are being killed and our geopolitical power is being diluted, despite the US already being the largest exporter of LNG by far. So today, we celebrate. And tomorrow, we are ready to fight again. All power to the people.”

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WASHINGTON—Hip Hop Caucus deeply mourns the loss of Tortuguita, a fearless environmental activist and a prominent figure in the Stop Cop City movement, who was killed one year ago today.

Manuel Paez Terán, also known as Tortuguita, was shot at least 14 times by police, leaving 57 wounds. Tortuguita’s death at the hands of Georgia state troopers, along with the Georgia bureau of investigation’s concealment of files surrounding his death, and the Stone Mountain district attorney’s finding of deadly force as reasonable, should haunt all of us. These actions by officials meant to protect our communities serve as a stark reminder that the struggle for justice and police accountability is far from over.

As we solemnly commemorate Tortuguita’s tragic passing, we must also take a moment to remember all of the human, civil, and environmental rights defenders whose lives have been cut short while fighting for justice. The irony is not lost on us that Tortuguita was slain in metro Atlanta just days removed from the birthday of Atlanta’s most famous resident and our nation’s most well known civil rights leader. It is not taken lightly that the same corporate greed that sought to quiet MLK’s message of economic freedom in his last days is once again providing cover for COP City and over-policing.

The criminalization of Stop Cop City activists is deeply troubling and threatens our fundamental rights. Safeguarding the space for peaceful protest is essential to the fabric of our democracy. It is imperative that activists like Tortuguita are not subjected to police violence or unfairly targeted or branded as criminals while advocating for change. We denounce unjust tactics reminiscent of the dark days of COINTELPRO and Jim Crow, including the overuse of domestic terrorism and racketeering charges, to silence activist voices.

As we honor the life and legacy of Tortuguita, may his spirit continue to inspire us all to stand up for our rights, seek justice, and work tirelessly to Stop Cop City.

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Today, Hip Hop Caucus’ Campaigns Manager Marsha Gosier issued the following statement in response to the alarming discovery of 215 multiracial bodies in unmarked graves near Jackson, Mississippi:

“Hip Hop Caucus stands in solidarity with civil rights attorney Ben Crump and the families of Dexter Wade, Marrio Moore and Jonathan Hankins by calling for a swift and thorough investigation by the Justice Department into the tragic and inhumane discovery of 215 multiracial bodies in unmarked graves behind the Hinds County, Mississippi jail. These circumstances are deeply concerning, warrant immediate attention, and highlight the urgent need to address issues related to deaths in custody and law enforcement accountability. 

The case of Dexter Wade, where crucial information was intentionally withheld from his family, is both heartbreaking and indicative of systemic problems in the criminal legal system. It underscores the importance of transparency and accountability at all levels of law enforcement. 

It is essential that this case is thoroughly investigated by the Justice Department, and the law enforcement officials responsible for the burial and lack of proper investigation, are held accountable.”

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WASHINGTON — Today, Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement to prioritize vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical central in plastic production and at the root of the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio earlier this year:

“The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to begin a review of this dangerous substance is welcomed and long overdue. Frontline communities have been advocating for years against petrochemicals like vinyl chloride and the Caucus was on the ground multiple times earlier this year to raise awareness of the damage done throughout the Ohio River Valley. 

Unlike other petrochemicals, vinyl chloride is almost exclusively used to make polyvinyl chloride, or PVC plastic, despite alternatives existing. Although the legal authority to ban vinyl chloride has existed for nearly 50 years, public opinion had not aligned to make this push until toxic fires burned for days outside of East Palestine, Ohio earlier this year. The Environmental Protection Agency will be opening a public comment period on this rule in the coming days. Hip Hop Caucus will be ready to work with our partners to get public input to ensure this cancer-causing chemical has seen its last days.”

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The first-of-its-kind agreement, signed by more than 200 nations, needs to be strengthened, and requires action to hold elected officials accountable

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – After nearly two weeks of contentious negotiations, nations at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly known as COP28, have signed a historic agreement to “transition away” from fossil fuels and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Russell Armstrong, senior director of campaigns and advocacy at the Hip Hop Caucus, issued the following statement in response to the news.

“COP28 was different from prior years. While the outcome may not have presented a full phase out from fossil fuels, it did signal a sea change that people – Black, Brown, Indigenous, Youth, Developing and Sea Island peoples – when united can affect change.

Throughout the last two plus weeks, Hip Hop Caucus was on the ground standing side by side with peoples from the Gulf South to the Global South demanding a fair, fast, and full phase out from fossil fuels. We met with diplomats and disruptors, organizing in hallways and hotel lobbies. The agreed-upon text is the first time in 28 conferences of the parties that all fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas – have been mentioned and called for being transitioned away from. In the final hours, leaders from hundreds of countries pushed back against fossil fuel lobbyists and the minority of fossil fuel states trying to line their pockets at the expense of humankind. There is hope for a future for our communities. Now we have to take the fight back home and push our elected leaders to deliver.” 

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