The Trump administration has reversed a Biden-era rule that allowed the EPA to expedite FOIA requests related to pollution in low-income Black and Brown communities, making it harder for activists to obtain information about potential environmental hazards.
Author Archives: Willy Blackmore
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
This Is What They’re Polluting a Black Neighborhood in Memphis For
The chatbot Grok on Elon Musk’s social media platform X was caught posting antisemitic content, while the supercomputer Colossus that powers Grok is polluting a predominantly Black neighborhood in Memphis with ozone and formaldehyde emissions.
Posted inClimate Justice
The Big Beautiful Bill Is Bad for Climate Justice Too
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on the Fourth of July, rescinds the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program and jeopardizes billions in promised grants, putting environmental and climate justice at risk.
Posted inClimate Justice
Trump’s EPA Cut $3B in Climate Grants. Now, a Lawsuit
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 23 organizations to reinstate $3 billion in EPA grants that were cut by Trump’s executive orders, arguing that the money was appropriated by Congress and cannot be undone by the President.
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
Colossal Polluter: NAACP Moves to Sue Musk in Memphis
The NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center are filing a complaint with the EPA against Elon Musk’s Colossus electric power plant in South Memphis, alleging that it is violating the Clean Air Act and contributing to the already poor air quality in the predominantly Black neighborhood.
Posted inClimate Justice
Climate Justice, the Houston Way
Harris County, Texas has adopted a climate justice plan that aims to create a safe, equitable future for all residents, including proposals for direct cash support for those who need help meeting basic needs, and addresses issues such as floodplain management, air quality, housing affordability, food access, and access to parks and open spaces.
Posted inClimate Justice
Memphis Had a Smog Problem Long Before Elon Came to Town
The Southern Environmental Law Center has requested the EPA to declare the greater Memphis area a “nonattainment” zone for ozone pollution due to the increased ozone levels caused by the Colossus supercomputer, which is powered by up to 35 unpermitted gas-powered generators.
Posted inNational
Trump Is Ignoring St Louis’s Devastating Tornado
President Trump has yet to declare a federal emergency for the recent tornado in St. Louis, leaving those affected without support from FEMA, despite the scale of the devastation.
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
In Cancer Alley, There’s No Pollution Monitoring While Black
Environmental groups are suing Louisiana for a law that makes it illegal to use low-cost air quality sensors in legal actions, violating residents’ free-speech rights and imposing a financial burden on local organizations.
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
Disaster Aid Was Already Unequal. Will Changes at FEMA Make Things Worse?
FEMA’s door-to-door canvassing program, which was crucial in reaching vulnerable communities, is being discontinued by the Trump Administration, leaving Black people and other people of color at a greater disadvantage in accessing disaster aid.