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,” and Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, join forces to support Pastor Timothy Williams and his daughter Melissa Williams, who represents residents from Elba, Alabama’s Black Shiloh community. They are in Washington, DC to make a last-ditch appeal to USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg to secure funding commitments for their homes and property damaged by flood-waters from a federally funded highway expansion project before he leaves office in a few days.
This effort is a continuation of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice nearly two-year old “Justice for Shiloh” campaign designed to raise the awareness of the injustice happening in the Shiloh community and to lend their collective voices in demanding USDOT Secretary Buttigieg hold the Alabama DOT accountable for the highway flooding and secure funding to cover losses and damages to the residents’ homes, businesses and properties. 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.
The agenda for Tuesday January 14 “Justice for Shiloh” event in Washington, DC is listed below:
10:30am – 11:00am – Meeting with national environmental justice leaders. Call to Action.
11:00am – 12:00pm – Press and Community Briefing – Speakers: Pastor Timothy Williams (Shiloh Community), Melissa Williams (Shiloh Community), Dr. Robert D. Bullard (Bullard Center), Ben Jealous (Sierra Club).
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.