10/19/11
Michael Berg
Sierra Club Missouri Chapter Statement in Solidarity with “Occupy Wall Street”
Protests
For the past several weeks, protesters have peacefully held vigil in hundreds of
American cities including St. Louis, calling for financial, political, and
economic reform under the banner of ‘Occupy Wall Street.’ The Occupy Wall Street
movement includes students, workers, labor union members, concerned citizens,
and environmentalists, including members and staff of the Sierra Club. In
response, Sierra Club Missouri Chapter Chair Jim Turner issued the following
statement:
“The Sierra Club Missouri Chapter stands in solidarity with the ‘Occupy Wall
Street’ movement.
“The Occupy Wall Street protests demonstrate the struggles of working families
and environmentalists are one and the same. For too long, corporate polluters
like the Koch Brothers have used their massive profits to attack fundamental
worker, health and environmental protections -- while suppressing advancements
in clean tech which would create millions of new jobs. For too long, Big Oil and
other corporate polluters have targeted low income communities and communities
of color for dumping their toxic industrial pollution, and shirked their
responsibility for clean-up. For too long, Wall Street and big banks have
financed destructive environmental practices like mountaintop removal coal
mining.
“Across Missouri, the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter is working to hold corporate
polluters accountable for polluting our air, land and water, hurting our health,
subverting our democracy, and strangling our economy.
“Investment in clean energy can create millions of good jobs and save working
families money on healthcare. We must work together to expand economic
opportunity and equality by moving America beyond dirty, dangerous coal and oil.
“The Sierra Club Missouri Chapter also supports peaceful protest and
demonstration as among the highest forms of citizen engagement in our democracy
– it is our right.
“We stand with the Occupy Wall Street movement against corporate greed and for a
more equitable, clean and healthy America.”