In a special called meeting on November 20, 2025, the Greene County Commission voted 5-0 to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the City of Tuscaloosa, the Tuscaloosa City Schools, and the City of Mountain Brook against the Alabama Department of Revenue, concerning revenues from the Simplified Seller Use Tax (SSUT). County Attorney Mark Parnell recommended to the Commission that they join this lawsuit in conjunction with the Alabama Association of County Commissioners. This will make sure Greene County gets a fair share of the flat 8% simplified seller use tax (SSUT) currently being levied on out of state shippers into Alabama. The lawsuit seeks to deal with loopholes in the law that provide some delivery services, based out of state, like Door-Dash and Instacart, to receive special savings not available to local retailers. The lawsuit would more equitably distribute the proceeds of this seller use tax to rural counties and city jurisdictions as the revenues from Internet purchasers grows. The Montgomery Circuit Judge hearing the case set December 10, 2025, as the deadline for other interested parties to join this litigation. This deadline is very close to the Greene County Commission’s next regular meeting date, which necessitated a special called meeting to allow Greene County to join the case. The Commission also accepted the resignation of the current Greenthumb Development Board member from District 4 and appointed Para Davis to this position at the recommendation of Commissioner Allen Turner Jr. The Greenthumb board is considering ways to help finance a medical marijuana operation in the Knoxville community of Greene County. The Commission also voted to spend up to $1,500 on shirts and other apparel for Commission members and staff which would help identify them as members of a team serving the county. In lieu of an Executive Session, Attorney Parnell reported that he was continuing negotiations and communications with Mr. Gomez, concerning his non-compliance with a lease on the former Greenetrack building, owned by the County. Gomez has not fulfilled his commitments under the lease and is now out of compliance and in danger of losing the lease.
U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Ala., introduced bipartisan legislation today to recognize the Tuskegee Airmen in honor of Veterans Day. The bill introduced by Figures would designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 401 North Elm Street in Tuskegee as the “Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office.” “Today, on my first Veterans Day in Congress, I want to wish a happy Veterans Day to all the men and women who have ever put on the uniform in defense and protection of the United States of America,” Figures said in a written statement. “You are the reason we enjoy the rights, privileges, and freedoms that we do in this country. On today and every day, I want to thank you for the commitment and courage you have shown throughout your careers to make this a better nation,” the representative continued. “I also want to thank your families, because I know when servicemembers serve, their families do too.” The legislation has received endorsements from each of Alabama’s seven representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated. Figures expressed hope that the bill would bring attention to the legacy and impact of the first group of African American pilots and support crews to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, who trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield. “Every person who enters the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office will be reminded of their courage, sacrifice, and service to our country,” Figures’ office wrote.2
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, announced Monday that she secured $3,265,000 for four local projects in Alabama’s Black Belt as a part of the annual appropriations process.
“Each year, my office works to secure funding for local projects that will make a tangible difference in the lives of our constituents,” Sewell said. “I am thrilled that this year, we are delivering at least $3.2 million worth of investments in the Black Belt. These four projects will expand access to health care, support our first responders, increase public safety, and improve our infrastructure. I will continue advocating for additional projects in our district as Congress finalizes the remaining nine spending bills for FY26.”
The four local projects include:
Perry County
$500,000 to renovate the Marion National Guard Armory, transforming an abandoned building into a multi-purpose community center. The renovated facility will serve as a hub for workforce development training, a temporary shelter for families during emergencies, and a community hub for the deployment and distribution of essential supplies.
$1,015,000 for Rural Health Medical Program, Inc., RHMPI, to renovate the Uniontown Health Center in Uniontown, Alabama. The proposed project will transform the existing facility into a modern, fully equipped medical center. The renovation will address critical gaps in medical infrastructure by upgrading clinical equipment, labs, X-ray capabilities, and IT systems, and by enhancing the roads and parking facilities around the center
Pickens County
$1,000,000 to construct a new joint police and volunteer fire station in Aliceville, helping first responders better serve the residents of Pickens County and West Alabama.
Sumter County
$750,000 for the Sumter County Commission for a new community center where residents of all ages can gather, connect and engage in activities that promote community empowerment and resilience. The community center will offer educational programs, workshops and skill-building sessions to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of community members, particularly youth and adults.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins speaks alongside Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., at a news conference to talk about SNAP benefits on day 31 of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Move aims to remove alleged 186K dead people who are receiving aid
By Polly Davis Doing, Newser AI
The Trump administration is planning to require all recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to reapply for benefits, citing concerns about widespread fraud, reports the Hill.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the move on Newsmax, saying the administration discovered that 186,000 deceased people were still receiving benefits, based on data from 29 Republican-led states. “Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data what we’re going to find?” Rollins said. “It’s going to give us … a trajectory to fundamentally rebuild this program, have everyone reapply for their benefit, make sure that everyone that’s taking a taxpayer-funded benefit through SNAP or food stamps, that they literally are vulnerable, and they can’t survive without it.”
Rollins described the program as “corrupt” and claimed that “for years, no one has really ever dug into” the issue, but that the Trump administration now has the tools to do so. She also said that 120 people have been arrested for SNAP fraud so far. There is already a recertification process in place in every state that requires SNAP recipients to update their information, typically every six to 12 months.
Federal officials did not clarify how the new testing would sync with that, notes Politico. A USDA spokesperson said the administration is simply using standard recertification processes to crack down on “fraud, waste, and incessant abuse” of the program. More than 41 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) has not issued a specific, direct public comment solely on the recent USDA claims that deceased individuals are receiving SNAP benefits. Instead, FRAC’s recent public statements focus on broader issues of program integrity versus access, particularly in the context of recent government actions and proposals to overhaul the program.
FRAC and other advocates have raised “real questions about how they’ve arrived at these numbers,” arguing that statistics regarding fraud need more detail and context to be properly evaluated.
Several sources have confirmed that former President Barack Obama phoned Reverend Jesse Jackson over the weekend, who is in Stable Condition at a Chicago Hospital. President Obama is said to have been coordinating with the family for several days before the 44th president reached the civil rights icon. There have been family connections spanning decades between the Jackson family and the Obamas. In 2008, Jesse Jackson Jr. served as the national co-chair of the Obama Presidential campaign. On Sunday, Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. also received a FaceTime call from Rev. Amos Brown, another Civil Rights pioneer who worked with Jackson. In the 1950s and 1960s, they marched and labored alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the fight for first-class citizenship for African Americans. In the 1970s, the two lieutenants of Dr. King separated and served in different parts of the country. Brown told this reporter that Jackson recognized him during the FaceTime communication “by his expression and countenance.” The San Francisco Pastor of former Vice President Kamala Harris also says the elder Jackson did not speak, but Brown “encouraged him to fight on as we had fought in the struggle as friends and freedom fighters.” In a matter of days, politicians, former staffers, and others have also gone to Jackson’s bedside to encourage him during his illness. Some of those include Reverend Al Sharpton. In a recent written statement, the Jackson family said that Reverend Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 2013. In April, the diagnosis changed to supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurological disorder. The family that is constantly by Reverend Jackson’s side in the hospital says, “We believe in the power of prayer, and we are grateful for the overwhelming outreach and prayers of the faithful. Our father is alert and continues to share his vision for churches and pastors to come together and reduce malnutrition during this period. He is enlisting 2,000 churches and pastors to distribute 2,000 baskets of food, to feed four million families this season,” said son and family spokesperson, Yusef Jackson.
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
The March of Dimes has released its 2025 Report Card, and across the United States, the findings tell a story of mothers and infants facing preventable risks that too often lead to tragedy. The national preterm birth rate remains at 10.4 percent.
Babies born to Medicaid-insured mothers experienced an 11.7 percent preterm birth rate, while babies born to mothers with private insurance recorded a 9.6 percent rate. For Black mothers, the rate climbed to 14.7 percent, the highest of any group in the country.
“Behind every statistic is a mom, a baby, and a family that deserves their best chance at a healthy start,” Dr. Elizabeth Kielb, Director of Maternal and Infant Health at the March of Dimes, stated. Those numbers speak to families whose lives can change in an instant. Preterm birth remains one of the leading causes of infant death and long-term health complications. For many mothers, the first signs of a problem appear months before delivery, yet too often they cannot secure the early prenatal care that could help keep a pregnancy safe. The United States now has hundreds of counties with no obstetric providers or birthing facilities. Some families travel for hours for a basic checkup. Others miss appointments because clinics are full or insurance does not cover the visit. The Commonwealth Fund’s 2025 national analysis found that the United States continues to have the highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy nations. American women die from pregnancy-related causes at rates far beyond those of peer countries. The Fund reported that Black women face the greatest danger, in part because of delays in care, long-standing gaps in coverage, unaddressed chronic conditions, and limited access to trusted providers. These findings match the patterns documented by the March of Dimes.
The March of Dimes identifies several reasons behind the country’s performance. Many women enter pregnancy with unmanaged hypertension, diabetes, or other chronic conditions. Large portions of the country are considered maternity care deserts, with no birthing hospitals and few clinicians trained in maternal health. Millions of women lose health insurance shortly after childbirth, leaving complications untreated. Black and Native mothers often report that their concerns are dismissed during prenatal and postpartum appointments, which can lead to dangerous complications that go unnoticed until they become life-threatening. These conditions place families at greater risk, no matter where they live. The states struggling the most sit in every region of the country. Mississippi recorded a preterm birth rate of 14.8 percent. Alabama stood at 13.6 percent. Louisiana recorded 13.2 percent. South Carolina reached 12.7 percent. Georgia reported 12.4 percent. These states received failing grades from the March of Dimes. Each has large rural regions with few maternity care providers, high rates of chronic medical conditions, and long-standing racial gaps that make pregnancy more dangerous for families of color. Cities face their own challenges. Memphis recorded one of the highest preterm birth rates among major metro areas. Detroit continued to see some of the largest racial gaps in infant outcomes. In Fresno and Bakersfield, mothers face long waits for prenatal care and limited access to specialists. In Washington, D.C., the preterm birth rate rose to 11.8 percent, the largest one-year increase in the country. Maryland and Virginia show mixed signs of progress. Maryland received a D+ with a 10.5 percent preterm birth rate. Virginia earned a C minus at 10.1 percent. Both states continue to wrestle with racial gaps and shortages in maternity care providers across rural communities and urban neighborhoods. The March of Dimes notes that these conditions are not distributed evenly. Families with higher incomes and stable private insurance can often secure early prenatal care, while families with low incomes or public insurance face delays that increase the risk of complications. Many women do not receive postpartum care beyond the immediate weeks after childbirth, even when ongoing monitoring is needed. The organization is trying to address these gaps through mobile health centers, NICU Family Support programs, and partnerships with hospitals aimed at improving maternal and infant care. On the national level, the March of Dimes is calling for investment in maternal mortality review committees, research funding through the PREEMIE Act, and nationwide adoption of extended Medicaid postpartum coverage.
Dr. Michael Warren, Chief Medical and Health Officer at the March of Dimes, said the findings show how much is at stake. “As a clinician who has seen how much is possible when we get it right, the data is deeply frustrating,” Dr. Warren said. “We have known about risk factors for preterm birth, including a history of prior preterm birth, chronic disease, and unequal access to care for years.”
Leo Branch re-elected as School Board President, Robert Davis elected as Vice President
The Greene County Board of Education met in regular session, Monday November 17, 2025 with all board members in attendance, as well as Interim Superintendent Mr. Darryl Aikerson and Attorney Hank Sanders. The annual reorganization of the board was conducted by Attorney Hank Sanders, who declared the offices of President and Vice President vacant and opened the floor for nominations. Ms. Veronica Richardson was nominated for Board President by Mr. Brandon Merriweather; Mr. Leo Branch was nominated for President by Ms. Carrie Dancy. Branch was elected Board President for another year on a 3-2 vote. Attorney Sanders noted that the election needed to be confirmed with a motion and vote. Dancy moved to elect Branch as Board President, Davis seconded. The motion carried with Dancy, Davis and Branch voting yes; Merriweather and Richardson voted no. Leo Branch nominated Robert Davis for Vice President; Brandon Merriweather nominated Veronica Richardson for Vice President. The vote was 3 for Davis and 2 for Richardson. The motion to confirm was offered by Branch with a second by Dancy. Branch, Dancy and Davis voted for Robert Davis for Board Vic President; Richardson received 2 votes. Branch and Davis expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in them and vowed to do their best. For his report, Interim Superintendent Aikerson designated presentations by the Curriculum Coordinator, Ms. Barbara Martin; Maintenance Supervisor, Ms. Sharon Hardwick; Federal Programs Coordinator, Dr. Charlayne Jordan-Riley. Mrs. Martin shared school system scores for 2024-2025 academic year. Eutaw Primary: overall score B (86); academic achievement – 77.08; academic growth – 100; chronic absenteeism – 33.55. Robert Brown Middle: overall score 58 (F); academic achievement – 34.10; academic growth – 77.33; chronic absenteeism – 37.61. Greene County High: overall score C (70); academic achievement -29.85; academic growth – 95.05; chronic absenteeism – 41.06; graduation rate – 76.19; college & career readiness – 65.08. Maintenance updates from Ms. Hardwick included: no open projects at Eutaw Primary; elevator install at RBM should be completed by November 28; new unit at RBM needs technical and electrical engineer; fire alarm inspection completed. At GRHS, structural engineer needed to submit drawings to address flooring issue near gym and back hallway. Items to complete with Track &Field include: asphalt paving; track surfacing and track equipment. Lighting is not included in Phase I Track & Field budget. Dr. Riley presented a detailed breakdown of the System’s Federal Programs, including describing the components of the program, role of the coordinator, total funding received for FY 26, how spending is determined, different types of federal funds received. The purpose of Federal Programs is to ensure that all students have a fair and equitable opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and assessments. The role of the coordinator is to plan, develop, implement and evaluate all functions related federal programs and grant programs. Total funding received for FY26 is $1,520,426. Title I, Part A supports basic programs operated by the school district. Title 11, Part A supports effective instruction;Title IV, Part A provides student support and academic achievement; Title V, Part B supports rural education initiative. If all money is not spent, the school district is allowed to carry a percentage of these funds over. The board approved the following personnel items recommended by Superintendent Aikerson Extended Day Program Substitutes: Mack, William – Transportation Spec Services; Russel, Carla- After School Bus Driver; Hill, Teresa – After School Bus Driver; Coats, Eddie – After School Bus Driver; Carpenter, LaJeffery – After School Bus Driver; Jackson, Arleen – After School Bus Aide – Special Services. Resignation: Atkins, Teresa – GCCC Director, effective, Dec. 18, 2025. AASBO Certification Stipend: Brewer, Sarah, CO – HR Coordinator/Certification Clerk/Payroll Mgr; Cockrell, Latanya, CO – LSA Bookkeeper/Supt. Secretary; Henderson, Mary, CO – Secretary/Bookkeeper,CO & Transportation; Morrow, Makane, CO – Accounts Payable; Smith, Tabitha – EPS School Secretary/Bookkeeper; Gaitor, Wanda,- GCHS School Secretary/Bookkeeper; Hunter, Tracey, GCHS – School Secretary/Bookkeeper; Sanford, Marilyn, RBMS -School Secretary/Bookkeeper; Morris, Twelia, – GCCC School Secretary/Bookkeeper. Retirement: Askew, Romanda,GCHS CNP Cook. Employment: Walker, Jacorri – Transportation Substitute Drive. The board approve the following administrative items. * Removal and sale of five (5) scrap buses by Mr. Otis Robinson under the agreement that fifty percent (50%) of the proceeds from the sale be remitted to the Greene County Board of Education. * Contract between Greene County Board of Education and West Central Officials Association for basketball officials at Robert Brown Middle School for the 2025 – 2026 school. * Contract between Greene County Board of Education and Druid City Officials Association for basketball officials at Greene County High School for the 2025 – 2026 school. * Payment of all bills, claims, and payroll. * Bank reconciliations as submitted by Mrs. Marquita Lennon, CSFO.
The Greene County Health System (GCHS) Board of Directors has selected Rodgerick Williams (age 49) as the new CEO/Administrator of the hospital, nursing home, physicians’ clinic and all ancillary health care services. His starting date was November 17, 2025. Dr. Marcia Pugh, former GCHS CEO/Administrator had informed the board that she was retiring effective October 31, 2025, but would remain available to assist the board and orient the new Administrator, as needed after that date. Rodgerick Williams was born in Jackson, Mississippi but grew up in Eutaw, Greene County, Alabama, living in Branch Heights most of that time. He graduated from Eutaw High School and knows many of the people in Greene County. Most recently, Williams was System Director of Capital Procurement at Houston, Methodist Hospital, where he oversaw a $1 Billion annual budget and implemented strategies that achieve $1 Million in weekly cost savings. Previously, at Tenet Healthcare, he unified procurement strategies across 61 hospitals and 475 surgical centers, generating meaningful cost savings while preserving Joint Commission and CMS compliance. He also was, earlier in his career at Community Health Systems, leading a multi-division operation for over 200 hospitals and spearheaded cost reductions of more than $1 million dollars a week. He began his healthcare career as a U. S. Army Combat Medic/EMT, and he transferred to the Air Force to be a Biomedical Equipment Technician. He has a bachelor’s degree and Master’s of Science in Health Administration, from the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB). In addition to his operational and financial management expertise, Williams has a strong commitment to community health and equity. As a Professor of Strategic Management in Healthcare at UAB, he partnered with local governments to reduce healthcare disparities. He was honored with the UAB Alumni Services Award for revitalizing underserved communities. “Recently, I purchased 85 acres of land in Fosters to build a home and a farm near Greene County. I was attracted to this position, as CEO/Administrator of the Greene County Health System, because I can bring my vision and experience in healthcare management and finance to this opportunity in a rural setting,” said Williams. He added, “I am confident in my ability to lead with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to patient centered care, while driving strategic growth and operational excellence.” John Zippert, GCHS Board Chair said, “ We are fortunate to find an experienced and dedicated leader to manage and operate our small rural hospital and nursing home into the uncertain future of healthcare in America and Alabama. We know that Rodgerick Williams came to us at a considerable sacrifice in compensation, but we wanted to offer locally grown talent a chance to lead our facility and serve our people and community.” Rodgerick Williams lives in Fosters, with his wife Leontyne Gulley Williams and two middle school children.
Water rushing through the streets of Jamaican towns from Hurricane Melissa; Melissa ripped roofs off houses and buildings; “wooden houses in Negril, Jamaica”
By April Ryan, NNPA
The United Nations reports that Hurricane Melissa has scattered nearly 5 million tons of debris across Western Jamaica, hindering crews from delivering aid and restoring critical services promptly. According to reports, crews are still working to clear roads, attempting to reach 27 communities cut off by landslides and flooding. Many of those communities are still without power and Wi-Fi. The category five storm killed at least 32 people in Jamaica and another 43 in nearby Haiti, where 13 people remain missing. Here in the United States, the head of the Congressional Black Caucus, New York Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, is working feverishly with the State Department to ensure help is coming from the United States to the affected Caribbean nations, particularly Jamaica. Both of the New York Congresswoman’s parents immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. Clarke has been a strong advocate for Caribbean issues and serves as co-chair of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus. According to a State Department website, “Within hours, Secretary [Marco] Rubio deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team, including urban search-and-rescue teams, to assess needs and provide search and recovery assistance. The State Department also indicates it “is collaborating with UN agencies, NGOs, and host governments to deliver food, water, medical supplies, hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and search and rescue support.” Iconic and award-winning actress, activist, and Jamaican native Sherly Lee Ralph said on The Tea with April, “It is exactly one week later, and there are some people who have not had anybody come to help them, nobody!” Ralph emoted,” It’s rough. We need help there now.” She is calling on all the people who have “enjoyed the beaches in Jamaica” to help by finding trusted places you know and making a donation, as the storm’s destruction has halted the normalcy of life on the island.” Ralph provided an update on some areas that hold personal significance for her. “The school that my parents helped build lost their roof. They’re trying to figure out where we’re going to put these kids, how we’re gonna get them back into school, all of these things, and it’s like I can see where we’re going afterwards, but how do we start to get the help there now?” The actresses’ children have also started a donation center at their facility, Walk Good LA, to help address some of the dire needs in Jamaica. Her family used the same space for donations to help the victims of the L.A. fires earlier this year. Relief efforts coordinated by Jamaican government Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness vowed that his government would devote “all our energy” to a strong recovery. On Facebook, Holness said recently: “Yesterday, In Manchester, I met with residents whose lives were upended by Hurricane Melissa. Many have lost homes and belongings, yet their strength and faith remain unshaken. In every story shared, I saw courage, the kind that defines us as Jamaicans. We will not leave anyone behind. Recovery has already begun, and we will rebuild stronger.” Holness, who visited devastated areas to meet residents and assess the damage up close, declared the entire island a disaster area while noting that the destruction is particularly difficult on communities in Saint Elizabeth and elsewhere which rely significantly on farming. The prime minister announced that the government launched supportjamaica.gov.jm to coordinate relief which will accept for donations, allow for people to report emergencies, and help those in need locate shelters.
Holness said Jamaica is resilient and will recover but Baker Brown said sometimes resilience comes at a cost. “Resilience is often celebrated as our superpower, but despite the resilience we are noted for, our souls are gone. This is beyond resilience. I must admit that this is emotional fatigue and exhaustion,” she said. “True resilience is not just about surviving adversity. It’s also about having access to resources, investment and psychological care, that will allow individuals and communities recover and thrive without having to carry the weight alone.” The United Nation’s World Food Program announced that it had received 2,000 boxes of emergency food assistance shipped from Barbados which will be distributed to shelters and in the most-affected communities in the St. Elizabeth area. And UNICEF said it is sending water, sanitation and hygiene kits for about 14,500 people and nutritional supplies for more than 4,000 children had been sent before the hurricane hit. Another $1 million was allocated to support immediate emergency response. The UN Population Fund has provided up to 5,000 reproductive health kits and 4,000 dignity kits alongside significant emergency relief support from the United Kingdom and Canada. A further $4m from its Central Emergency Response Fund has also been allocated to affected people in Jamaica. Medical kits for about 11,000 people were provided by the Pan American Health Organization.
NNPA reporting supplemented by Barrington M. Salmon, Trice Edney Newswire
Dr. Ben Chavis, center, honored during the Mississippi Statewide Environmental Justice Climate Change Summit 2025 and –Ben Chavis
By: Siena Gleason,
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – Dr. Benjamin Chavis, president/CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), was celebrated as the father of the environmental justice movement at the Mississippi Statewide Environmental Climate Justice Summit organized by Jesus People Against Pollution (JPAP) October 24-26, 2025, headquartered at Tougaloo College. Aaron Mair, the first African American president of the Sierra Club and an early environmental justice leader from Albany, NY, celebrated Chavis for his contribution to the movement, specifically citing his 1987 study, Toxic Waste and Race in the United States of America. “What really gave [the environmental justice movement] force was the Toxic Waste and Race study providing a foundational, as they say, evidence-based approach which could then be replicated by frontline communities,” said Mair. Mair described how Chavis bravely demanded that the environmental poisoning of Black and poor communities must be looked at through the lens of civil rights, creating the movement that is now known as the environmental justice movement. “During the 1980s, you couldn’t make just an allegation of discrimination; you had to prove it. You had to statistically show that it existed,” said Chavis. “Nobody ever asked, was there a correlation between the proximity of toxic waste facilities, toxic emissions, and climate emissions to public health?” Karenna Gore of the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary traced back Chavis’ founding of the environmental justice movement even further. Gore praised Chavis for catalyzing the environmental justice movement when he organized and led a nonviolent sit-in protest in 1982 against the planned dumping of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls in Warren County, North Carolina. This sit-in is widely understood to be the launchpad for the modern-day environmental justice movement, said Gore. During the protest, Chavis was arrested and put into the Warren County Jail. While he was in his cell, he came up with the term “environmental racism”. It quickly became widely used by activists and later was replaced with the phrase “environmental justice” which also includes the way in which poor people of all colors are systematically poisoned by corporate and government polluters. Gore reminded people of the courage it took Chavis to get arrested that day given he had been a political prisoner in North Carolina just a few years before as part of a group of persecuted civil rights activists known as the Wilmington Ten. The Wilmington Ten were arrested in February 1972 during racial unrest over school desegregation in Wilmington, North Carolina. The group – Chavis, eight Black students, and one white female – were charged with arson and conspiracy after firebombs were set downtown and firefighters received sniper fire. All ten were convicted in October 1972 and sentenced to a combined 282 years in prison, with Chavis receiving 34 years. Amnesty International designated them as political prisoners in 1978. After key witnesses recanted their testimony in 1977, admitting police pressure and bribery, their convictions were overturned in December 1980 due to prosecutorial misconduct. In 2012, they received full Pardons of Innocence. However, his time in prison has never discouraged him from continuing his activism. Chavis has been arrested over 30 times and continues to fight for environmental justice. The summit took place at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, and was organized by Dr. Charlotte Keys, founder of Jesus People Against Pollution. Dr. Keys is one of Mississippi’s earliest leaders in the environmental justice movement. Like Chavis, she has never stopped. She is still fighting for change in Columbia, Mississippi, and throughout the state. Her community in Colombia became a notorious cancer cluster after a Reichold chemical plant explosion. On Oct. 25, Chavis added meaning to a panel hosted by Gore, a discussion intended to generate recommendations for the 30th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Brazil, focusing on the Global Ethical Stock Take initiative. He was joined on the panel by his fellow, former national president and CEO of the NAACP Ben Jealous. During the panel, Chavis said he believes that acknowledging the struggle against climate change is essential for uniting and creating global solutions. “To COP30: don’t cop out, cop in,” said Chavis. “Cop in to lay the groundwork and the reaffirmation of a global struggle to prevent climate crisis, climate injustice, and to respond to the environmental injustices that are growing all over the world.” Chavis also said that COP30 offers an opportunity for younger generations to get involved and continue fighting for environmental justice. “It’s very important for each generation to rise to the occasion,” said Chavis. “Quite frankly, the first voices that came out against climate change and the climate injustice were young people because young people realized that they may not live to be old if we don’t solve this situation.”
