Sierra Club on State-Sanctioned Violence

Sierra Club’s Statement on Trump’s State-Sanctioned Violence Against Protesters

Washington, DC -- Last night, peaceful protesters outside the White House were violently attacked for demanding that Black lives matter. Last year, the Sierra Club joined with a coalition of environmental justice and national environmental groups to release a just and equitable national climate platform that centers racial, climate, and environmental justice. And in the past month, the Sierra Club has issued statements condemning police brutality and the violent murders of Admaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd as our community continues its efforts to grow to meet this moment.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Protesters across the country are marching to affirm the humanity of Black people and expose the racism and hatred embedded into a system that relies on Black inferiority. Yesterday, we witnessed the Commander in Chief issue an assault on our First Amendment rights, but this attack is only a fraction of the pain and trauma that Black people have endured since the founding of this country.

“Donald Trump declared he would arm the military to prevent peaceful protests, yet he failed to arm frontline workers to combat COVID-19. He boasts of upholding law and order, but fails to demand law and order when white supremacists employ militarized intimidation tactics. And in the midst of civil unrest, he poses in front of historic places of worship, but fails to comprehend the golden rule.

“We can't fulfill our mission to ‘enlist humanity’ to protect the planet while racism continues to divide us. There can be no climate justice without an end to the anti-Blackness and white supremacy that empowers polluters to create environmental sacrifice zones.

“Our collective humanity is deeply connected and racism in our society is a direct threat to our environmental progress. The Sierra Club refuses to idly stand by as our Black and Brown neighbors and friends are murdered by racist policing.”