At our last Clean Air Action Committee meeting I was taken back 15 years ago when the problems of air pollution, company greed and toxic dumping were challenged by communities fighting back and demanding for sustainability in Los Angeles. In prepration for our upcoming Earthday film event, we viewed a compelling documentary film called Voices from the Front Lines which relates the rich history of the Strategy Center fighting for environmental justice during the late 1980s and early 90s. The Labor/Community Watchdog campaign organized residents of Wilmington, Carson and others in the harbor region to fight the big oil tycoon Texaco and other corporate polluters who for decades profited while poisoning the surrounding Black and Brown communities. They also challenged government agencies like the Air Quality Management District to enforce environmental regulations instead of giving into polluting corporations.

It was eye-opening to see how Texaco, not only left its ugly footprint within low-income
Black and Brown communities here in Los Angeles but in Third World countries like Ecuador.
During the film I was horrified to see how the people and animals that resided in the town
where Texaco left its toxic mess had been reduced to bathing and drinking the poisoned water
because all the water and rivers were contaminated. People and animals were dying from all
kinds of rare cancers and diseases yet this multibillion dollar oil corporation cared less
about the wellbeing of the lives that reside around their huge chemical dumps. It left me
emotionally enraged that Texaco can simply run away with leaving chemical dumps and
devastating native people in Ecuador and in low income Black and Brown communities here.  

One of the more hopeful clips of the film shows how the people in Quito were able to band
together and build something good out of a bad situation such as building community gardens
to grow fruits and vegetables out of a former trash dump. I also liked the scene where the
Strategy Center’s director, Eric Mann as well as many other environmental activists and
organizers militantly interrupted the Air Quality Management District Board meeting when
the Board tried to evade a discussion in front of the public by deliberately delaying the
meeting. It was a reflection of how the LCSC was not going to sit by and stand for the types
of injustices that were occurring then and especially now. 

After watching this documentary and seeing the rich history of the Center, I am more
determined to stop environmental racism and corporate greed in poverty struck communities
consisting of Black and Brown peoples and folks from Third World countries. I am determined
to fight for a city that is sustainable, that prioritizes public health and mass transit.
As long as I have my foot planted in a real movement in the frontlines of struggle, I know
that soon enough we will reach this goal. I feel good about being part of this organization
and being active in the Clean Air Action Campaign Committee that’s fighting auto and
expanding bus-only lanes and clean air.