Juneteenth and the Ongoing Fight for Environmental Justice

We should care about the protection of people as much as we care about the protection of our planet—to me, these fights are the same.

Leah Thomas

Saravan, Edward, and Erica with Representative Janet Yang Rohr at the Naperville Neighbors United Juneteenth celebration

On June 13th, six of Accelerate Climate Solutions Youth Leaders had the opportunity to table at Naperville Neighbors United’s Juneteenth Festival. We met local and state elected officials including, State Senator Laura Ellman and U.S. House Representative, Bill Foster, and connected with several other organizations. 

Going into the event, I reflected on the importance of recognizing environmental justice as part of Juneteenth. Juneteenth, short for June Nineteenth, honors the end of slavery in the United States. Although this holiday dates back to 1865, it was not recognized as a federal holiday until 2021, over 150 years later. This alone highlights the importance of the holiday as it is not just a day to reflect on the past but a day to acknowledge and confront the injustices that continue to persist. 

As a Naperville-based organization we cannot ignore that Black, Indigenous, people-of-color (BIPOC) and low-income communities are the most affected by climate change and environmental hazards. Thus in acknowledging the struggle and contributions of people-of-color, we must also recognize our privilege and do our part.

One of the ways we can do this is by embracing The Principles of Environmental Justice. The Principles were drafted in 1991 by the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, and serve as a defining document for the environmental justice movement. There are a total of 17 principles, but one in particular stands out to me most: “Environmental Justice demands the right [of People of Color] to participate as equal partners at every level of decision-making, including needs assessment, planning, implementation, enforcement and evaluation.”

We could have all the climate solutions at our finger tips, but if diverse voices are not present at the table, true change can never be achieved. Dr. Robert D. Bullard, known as the father of environmental justice, is a prime example of what can be achieved when we come together to combat injustice. He has received several awards for work including the 2024 TIME Earth Award, which recognizes “individuals influencing the future of the planet through their work on climate justice, awareness, and activism.”

Overall, I encourage you this Juneteenth, to celebrate our diverse climate and environmental leaders in the fight for a just world and healthy planet. 

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