Environmental Justice Leaders from Elba, Alabama and the Bullard Center Invited to Speak at New Birth Missionary Church to Demand Justice for the Flood-Damaged Historic Black Shiloh Community
HOUSTON, TX – Dr. Robert D. Bullard, who is often called the “father of environmental justice,” Jocelyn Travis of the Sierra Club,and Light, Pastor Timothy Williams and a delegation of residents from Elba, Alabama’s flood-damaged Black Shiloh community will join in worship at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta on Sunday January 12 as part of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice “Justice for Shiloh” campaign designed to raise the awareness of national faith leaders on the injustice happening in the Shiloh community and to lend their collective religious voices in demanding USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg hold the Alabama DOT accountable for the highway flooding and secure binding commitments to cover losses and damages to the residents’ homes, businesses and properties before the Biden-Harris administration ends on January 20. Given the historic environmental justice accomplishments and achievements made under the current administration, it would be shameful to leave the matter of “Justice for Shiloh” unresolved. And by not keeping his promise made to the Shiloh community in April 2024, Secretary Buttigieg’s legacy for them will be, “He let Black Shiloh residents drown and their flood-damaged homes sink into the mud.”
Shiloh becomes a lake during hard rains—flooding homes, sinking foundations, overflowing septic systems and causing sewage backups in homes. Moisture in attics from leaky roofs is causing mold that’s making homeowners sick. The constant flooding of the land is causing subsidence with homes sinking into the red clay and contributing to structural damage to homes foundations. Sadly, flood-related claims are being denied by insurance companies. Some residents are now at risk of losing their homeowners insurance altogether. Shiloh homeowners are left with mounting bills from the flooding. These extra flood-related costs are especially burdensome for elderly and low-income families on fixed incomes.
9:30am – “Pray for Justice for Shiloh” – New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (6400 Woodrow Road Stonecrest, GA 30038) | Pastor Dr. Jamal H. Bryant. Special Guests: Pastor Timothy Williams, Elba, Alabama Shiloh Community Leader and Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas.
The Robert D. Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University was launched in 2021 to address long standing issues of systemic inequality and structural racism that cause disproportionate pain, suffering and death in Black and other people of color communities. The Bullard Center works to promote environmental, climate, economic, energy, transportation, food and water and health justice. Texas Southern University is a student-centered comprehensive doctoral university committed to ensuring equality, offering innovative programs that are responsive to its urban setting, and transforming diverse students into lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and creative leaders in their local, national, and global communities.