A member of the Democratic so-called “Squad” accused the fossil fuel industry of being an “example of white supremacy” as she noted the impact its products and the location of oil refineries have on communities of color.
During a House hearing on Thursday, fossil fuel industry leaders faced questions about climate change and allegations that the industry misled the public.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) grilled executives on the effects fossil fuels have on communities of color. She kicked off her inquiry by asking David Lawler of BP, “Are the overwhelming majority of fossil fuel CEOs Black or white?”
“I don’t have the exact numbers, but I would assume they’re white,” Lawler responded.
Bush noted that his response was correct then asked Gretchen Watkins of Chevron, “Is an oil refinery more likely to be situated in a Black community or a white community?”
Watkins said she did not know how to answer that question as she noted the company has refineries “along the U.S. Gulf Coast.”
“Well, it’s Black,” Bush stated.
She then turned her attention to Michael K. Wirth of Chevron and asked if the “impacts of climate change are likely to hit a Black neighborhood or white neighborhood first.”
Wirth said he had not seen studies that would allow him to answer that question.
“The answer is Black. The facts are clear a 2017 NAACP and Clean Air Task Force report found that Black Americans are 75% more likely to live next to companies, industrial and service facilities, that directly harm us,” Bush said.
She continued, “For years, you all have continued to promote fossil fuels despite knowing that promoting them means promoting environmental racism and violence in Black and brown communities. You all are still promoting and selling fossil fuels that are killing millions of people. This is a striking example of white supremacy.”
“Your profit-driven choices threaten my life, the lives of my family, my neighbors, and our communities every single day,” she added.
Watch the video below:
Rep. Bush wraps her questioning of energy industry execs: "Given each of your roles in these attacks on our humanity, you all should resign. Thank you" pic.twitter.com/E9QW2813Xo
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) October 28, 2021
Finally, Bush said, “Given each of your roles in these attacks on our humanity, you all should resign. Thank you.”
The Missouri Congresswoman noted a 2017 NAACP and Clean Air Task Force report that revealed the “disproportionate impact of polluting facilities on lower-income communities and communities of color.”
A key finding of the report found, “Oil and natural gas production, processing, and transmission and storage facilities are built near or currently exist within a half-mile of over one million African Americans, exposing them to an elevated risk of cancer due to air toxic emissions.”
“There are 91 counties across the U.S. that are building oil refineries or where refineries exist close to more than 6.7 million African Americans, or 14 percent of the national population, disproportionately exposing them to toxic and hazardous emissions such as benzene, sulfur dioxide, and formaldehyde,” the report added.
