FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2025
Contact: Ashley Sullivan, ashley.sullivan@weact.org
WASHINGTON – Leslie Fields, Chief Federal Officer at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, shared the following statement:
“WE ACT for Environmental Justice is proud to endorse the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Building upon the work of the late, great Congressman John Lewis (who also co-introduced the Environmental Justice Act of 1992), and the living legacy of civil rights, our mission is to empower communities of color and low-income people to participate meaningfully in decision-making to build healthy communities and futures. Our communities have long been underinvested in, faced decades of prejudicial policies, and now live on the frontlines of the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. To protect our families, our health, and a livable future, our communities must be able to participate fully in electing the leaders who represent them and who make the policy decisions that affect their lives. As efforts from undemocratic and unpatriotic forces to undermine access to the freedom to vote continue to grow, we must be firm in our commitment to equal rights under the law and our pursuit of democracy for all. The first, foundational step in achieving this goal is codifying full protections for our nation’s most fundamental right to vote. We call on Congress to stand up for our communities and those across the country by swiftly passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”
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WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan-based, membership-driven organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and/or low-income residents are meaningfully included in the development of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit us at weact.org and follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, Twitter/X, and Instagram.