Fighting for Environmental Justice Takes Long-Lasting Coalitions

Abstract

Collaboration between grassroots groups, environmental groups, city politicians, and GGU law professors and students resulted in closure of two dirty power plants in the City of San Francisco. The collaboration also prevented other projects using fossil fuel. This success is attributable to the community’s ability to gather critical health information and educate the city politicians on the unjust health impacts of the plants on the City’s African Americans. Long-term stability of the community’s advocates, including our clinic also contributed to the success as the struggle lasted more than a decade. Moreover, the community had to build coalitions with regional clean air and water groups to ensure closure.

Keywords: power plants, community organizing, community centered legal services, environmental justice