CRCQL protest at City Hall on April 7th
On April 7th, we, along with Reclaim Philadelphia, EQAT, and Trash Academy, held a powerful “Die-In” protest on the steps of Philadelphia City Hall. This demonstration was organized to shed light on the catastrophic effects of the Reworld trash incinerator, a major source of pollution threatening the health and well-being of our Chester community.
The protest aimed to highlight the alarming increase in deaths due to cancer and other health risks linked to the incinerator’s operations. Originally scheduled ahead of a crucial vote on April 9th, which has since been postponed, the demonstration sought to urge decision-makers to consider the severe implications of their actions.
“We have people who are literally dying,” said Zulene Mayfield, chairperson of CRCQL. “Why should we be inundated with everybody else’s pollution? You want a cleaner, greener Philadelphia, but you want to trash us!” -Quote courtesy of ABC News
During the protest, many participants lay on the ground in a symbolic gesture of the lives lost and the ongoing health struggles faced by Chester residents. Others held signs displaying photographs of loved ones from the community who have passed away, personalizing the stark reality of the situation.
The protest served as a poignant reminder that while one-third of Philadelphia’s trash is sent to Chester to be burned, the community is left to grapple with disproportionately high rates of asthma and cancer. CRCQL’s “Die-In” was not just a protest, but a call for environmental justice and accountability from those in power.
For more coverage on this die – in can be found here:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/chester-residents-urge-philadelphia-stop-223502594.html
