Hurricane Katrina proved that if black lives matter, so must climate justice | Elizabeth C Yeampierre

The environmental justice and Black Lives Matter movements are complementary. We can't afford to choose between the two

Those of us from low-income communities of color are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. US cities and towns that are predominantly made up of people of color are also home to a disproportionate share of the environmental burdens that are fueling the climate crisis and shortening our lives. One has only to recall the gut-wrenching images of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath to confirm this.

At a time when police abuse is more visible than ever thanks to technology, and our communities continue to get hit time and time again by climate catastrophe, we can't afford to choose between a Black Lives Matter protest and a climate justice forum, because our survival depends on both of them.