for more information contact: Craig Williams (859)986-7565
Rufus Kinney (456) 435-4743
for immediate release: Thursday, August 16, 2001
Citing the already excessive citizen exposures to the same types of toxins that will be emitted from the Army's chemical weapons incinerator in Anniston (Calhoun County), Alabama, the National Board of Directors of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) has unanimously adopted a Resolution calling for alternative disposal technologies to destroy the weapons stored there.
The Resolution, adopted at the SCLC's 43rd Annual Convention, held in Montgomery states that, "Whereas, the Department of Defense has identified and successfully demonstrated non-incineration disposal technologies that would eliminate or significantly reduce the possibility of the release of chemical warfare agent, dioxins, lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, PCBs and other carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health impacting chemicals..." therefore be it resolved by the SCLC that, "The federal government has failed to meet its statutory duty to provide 'maximum protection' to the people of Calhoun County in general and to the African-American communities in particular."
The Resolution went on to say that, "[T]he current incineration technology is not a viable approach for destroying the chemical weapons stockpile and the incinerator should be retrofitted with an alternative technology which is less intrusive and more environmentally benign..."
Rufus Kinney, an Anniston leader in the anti-incineration group, Families Concerned About Nerve Gas Incineration, said, "We are very pleased that the SCLC recognized the environmental injustice that will result from incinerating these weapons and that this revered civil rights organization is taking a stand with us against the Army's polluting technology."
Several representatives of the SCLC National Board visited Anniston during the convention to underscore their concern for the impacts of the pollution already existing in Anniston and the additional burden citizens will have to endure if the incinerator starts up. Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, national vice-president and long time civil rights advocate said, "It ought to be an all-out fight - it ought not be a one time battle. Don't let them make money off your lives."
Chemical Weapons Workng Group Director, Craig Williams commented, "As more and more of the disproportionate toxic burden that has been put on low-income and African-American communities like West Anniston is revealed, it becomes even more incumbent upon the federal government to ensure no additional contamination takes place. The Army's chemical weapons incinerators have a track record of releasing nerve agents and a wide variety of other toxins out their smokestacks. With much less polluting options available, there is no justification to burn these weapons anywhere - much less a community already suffering the way Anniston is."
Copies of the SCLC Resolution are available at the CWWG website
or from their office.
 CWWG Home Page |
Contact us: |