wfn.org | African American Church Leaders on NCC Toxic Tour

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Internet: wendym@ncccusa.org

NCC News Department: 212-870-2252, 2227, 2312 or 2152
Media Relations Contact Traveling With the Group: Carol Fouke
Cellphone Number(s) To Be Announced -- Check Message on 212-
870-2252

NCC3/10/98  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 11-14: PROMINENT AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH LEADERS WILL 
CONDUCT TOUR TO INVESTIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM; PLAN ALSO TO 
MEET WITH VICE PRESIDENT GORE

Washington, D.C., March 11-12 - Holiday Inn Thomas Circle
New Orleans, La., March 12-14 - Holiday Inn Select, Kenner, 
La.

Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" is on the March 11 - 14 itinerary 
of a senior delegation of prominent African American church 
leaders as they undertake their environmental racism "Fact-
Finding Mission: Investigating the Human Ravages Against God's 
Earth and God's People."  They also plan to meet with Vice 
President Gore in Washington, D.C. (TBA March 11 or 12)

The mission's goal is to mobilize African American churches in 
the quest for environmental justice. "We need to find out how 
to get our hearts wrapped around this issue," said the Rev. 
Dr. William Watley, Chair of the ecumenical Black Church 
Liaison Committee, which is co-sponsoring the tour.  The 
Committee is a joint initiative of the National Council of 
Churches, which is making tour arrangements, and the U.S. 
Conference of the World Council of Churches.

The denominational leaders' stops will include Convent, La., 
where residents are fighting to keep the Shintech Corporation 
from building the largest proposed polyvinylchloride plastics 
factory.  The Shintech case has emerged as the most watched 
and significant civil rights case to date involving charges of 
environmental racism.  The church leaders also will meet with 
local pastors, environmental activists and policy advocates as 
they make site visits in New Orleans, Oakville, New 
Sarpy/Norco, Convent and Baton Rouge, La.

The African American church leaders also have requested a 
meeting with Louisiana Governor Mike Foster.

****MEDIA WELCOME!****

News media are welcome to accompany the African 
American church leaders as they make site visits in 
Louisiana on Friday, March 13.  Meet the group at 
8:30 a.m. sharp at the Holiday Inn Select, Kenner, 
La.  Phone Carol Fouke, NCC Media Liaison, at the 
hotel (504-467-5611 after 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 
12, if you need more information).

The group will first visit the Agriculture Street 
Landfill in New Orleans and gather at the Shirley 
Jefferson Community Center for Orientation.

Next, in Oakville, La., the group will gather at the 
Oakville Missionary Baptist Church.  Lunch will be 
around 1 p.m. at the River of Life Christian 
Fellowship, New Sarpy, La., stopping later at the 
Greater New Hope Baptist Church, Norco, La.

The group expects to arrive in Convent, La., around 
3:30 p.m. and will gather at the Mt. Lily Baptist 
Church.

The site tour will continue en route to Baton Rouge.  
As the group leaves Convent (around 5:45 p.m.) and 
drives along Highway I toward Baton Rouge, they will 
pass the Dow Chemical Company (which bought out the 
black community of Morrisonville) and what was 
Sunrise, a black community which was bought out and 
destroyed by a chemical company.

Arriving in Baton Rouge around 6:45 p.m., the group 
will visit pollution sites, and has asked to meet 
the Louisiana Governor for dinner at 7 p.m. before 
leaving for New Orleans at around 8 p.m.

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