For Immediate Release: December 5, 2022
Today, the Black Hive at the Movement for Black Lives released the following statement condemning renewed efforts by Congressional leadership to sneak Senator Manchin’s zombie “permitting reform” bill in favor of fossil fuels forever into a forced vote within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):
“Congressional leaders have, again, chosen to sacrifice Black communities in order to check a box on the fossil fuel industry’s deregulation checklist. It is appalling that Congressional leaders would attempt to force this vote through while we still mourn the loss of Rep. A. Donald McEachin — a man who dedicated his life to environmental justice for all. This deal shamefully empowers the fossil fuel industry at the expense of the people and principles Rep. McEachin stood for.
Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer should know better than to take this position when the communities they represent have made it clear that this deal favors polluters and profiteers. We are monitoring the situation as the House and Senate consider legislation that includes community rebuked and roundly rejected “permitting reform” language.
We remind our elected leaders to remember those who they actually represent — the people. And we demand that no matter the vehicle, our elected leaders remember their real mandate, and represent Black communities, the poor, rural, urban, and all others who reject regressive speed for poisonous sacrifice zones, today or tomorrow.
The Black Hive at the Movement for Black Lives is a growing collective of over 200 climate and environmental justice organizations and Black leaders. Earlier this year, The Black Hive directed thousands of emails, calls, and tweets to members of Congress to help stop Senator Manchin’s side deal. Now we are re-releasing the toolkit to support movement pressure on Congressional leadership to block Manchin’s toxic deal and protect Black Lives from political gamesmanship.”
The Movement for Black Lives is a national network of more than 150 leaders and organizations creating a broad political home for Black people to learn, organize and take action. M4BL includes activists, organizers, academics, lawyers, educators, health workers, artists and more, all unified in a radical vision for Black liberation and working for equity, justice and healing.
