The Sierra Club Political Committee released a new video urging African Americans in swing states to vote. The video features Sierra Club President Aaron Mair explaining the catastrophic consequences of climate change, the negative health effects of pollution on communities of color, and how voting is essential in combating this crisis.
“This year, the planet is truly on the ballot. Communities of color face higher and more frequent exposure to dirty air and dirty water and disproportionately shoulder the burden of pollution and its negative health effects,” said Aaron Mair, President of the Sierra Club. “If we do nothing, superstorms will get worse; powerplants will continue to make our air unbreathable and dirty fossil fuel executives will continue to pad their pockets at the cost of our loved ones’ lives.”
Sixty percent of African Americans live within 30 miles of a power plant; 39% of people of color live within just 3 miles of one. In fact, 7 in 10 African-Americans live in areas with unsafe air and African-American children are three times more likely to be admitted to the hospital for asthma than other children.
Much of the same toxic pollution that’s poisoning the air is also driving climate disruption — and that too has a disproportionate effect on these same vulnerable communities. African-Americans are more likely to live in the coastal areas that are threatened by sea level rise and massive storms like Katrina and Sandy.
The ad is set to run on Facebook through Election Day in NV, NC, GA, FL, GA, MI, IL aiming to engage African American voters and encourage them to get out to the polls on November 8.
“We have a choice in this election and that choice could not be any more clear,” said Mair. “We can fight to protect our families and the planet by voting for Hillary Clinton. Every vote can make a difference.”
The video also directs viewers to the Sierra Club’s Climate Voter guide, which lays out key races and the Sierra Club’s federal endorsements throughout the country.
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