On the outskirts of Atlanta, another case of southern activists opposing a major pollution facility is pending trial, led by black women.
“As Black women, we’ve fought to be heard and accepted on so many levels,” says Jennifer Wilson of Windsor Downs. “It’s almost like [fighting back] goes without saying – it’s just something that we, especially my generation, have learned. ”
Wilson is a member of Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment, an organization focused on protecting southern DeKalb County’s communities from environmental injustices.
“My brother teases him, but he says, ‘You hardly have any money, but you are always in these battles that you don’t lose,'” says Renee Cail, President of CHASE. “And I said, ‘I’m not bragging about it because in life we win some, we lose some. But we are just blessed not to have lost any and only God knows why. “
Bad neighbor
On-site activities at another Metro Green facility in Doraville, Georgia, show what the latest planned facility might look like. (Image credit: Ron Sherman)
For nearly two years, CHASE’s efforts have focused on protecting the surrounding neighborhoods from Metro Green Recycling, a planned solid waste disposal facility that would bring hundreds of tons of waste to the site every day – and the accompanying noise and noise Odors, dust, and particulate matter, as well as heavy metals and chemicals that could contaminate an on-site tributary of the South River.
Seeing the clear cutting and other activity on the facility’s premises, Cail began researching what was going on and knew it was time to whistle.
Somewhere between getting to know each other at virtual city council meetings related to the project and the connection between Georgia Representative Doreen Carter, Cail and Wilson say their grassroots campaign was born.
Five women have made it their business to start Stop Metro Green, a campaign by CHASE.
“And then one Saturday morning we all got together and handed out flyers on foot,” says Cail.
As proof that numbers have power, they put up around 50-100 participants who are now informed about Metro Green’s proposal and are actively campaigning against it.
Organizing grassroots during the COVID-19 pandemic presented its own challenges. CHASE leaders say they left leaflets on mailboxes and held a car protest to minimize exposure to the virus. They also made “STOP METRO GREEN” face masks. (Photo credit: Ron Sherman and Michael Schwarz)
“We knew that the more people we brought in, the easier it would be for us to hire more people and work with other organizations,” says Cail. “Once people understand that they have a vested interest, some power, and feel confident to speak and share their voice, it’s easier.”
In addition to air and water quality, neighbors are concerned about noise pollution, heavy truck traffic and vibrations that could damage their homes. Although it is unclear what exactly happened on site at Metro Green, at least one neighbor has reported a crack in the foundation of her house due to the turbulence. Others reported cracked driveways, dust and smells as well as emotional and psychological stress as a result.
Jennifer Wilson enjoys relaxing outside her home in Windsor Downs, but says the constant activity and pollution from Metro Green make it difficult. (Image credit: Ron Sherman)
Perhaps more notably, when concerns about the project came to light, there were many homes for sale. Despite so many neighbors moving, Wilson says she refuses to join them.
“It’s just the principle,” she says. “If I decide to sell, it’s because we as a family decided to do it. Not because a company decided to move its business here and chase me away. ”
Over a dozen Miller Woods homes are within 30 yards of the Metro Green border, and Miller Grove Middle School is less than a mile down the street. Thousands of residents live directly across from the facility in unincorporated DeKalb County, including Crestview Apartments, Windsor Downs Subdivision, and other neighborhoods some of which have lived since the 1980s.
If allowed, the facility would take an average of 400 tons of concrete, metal, wood, rock, drywall, asphalt shingles and other solid construction and demolition waste per day, explains Senior Attorney April Lipscomb. Metro Green would also crush large amounts of concrete on the north end of the property bordering the neighbors’ backyards in the Miller Woods Stonecrest subdivision.
SELC represents CHASE in its case against Metro Green and last won an injunction in September to temporarily suspend the construction and operation of the facility.
This was just a reminder that if you know an injustice has happened, you must fight the good fight to the end.
Jennifer Wilson, CHASE member
Wilson says her heart was beating fast when the DeKalb County Superior Court judge read the positive verdict, and she almost cried for joy.
“It was just a reminder that when you know that wrong has happened, you have to fight the good fight to the end,” she adds.
CHASE and SELC also accuse the city of Stonecrest of failing to locally approve the project and that Metro Green hid and misrepresented key information from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division when it applied for its state solid waste handling approval.
CHASE members Jacqueline Bryant (left) and Kamla Gonzales (right) testify about Zoom at court hearings. Senior Attorney April Lipscomb (center) leads SELC’s work to represent CHASE.
CHASE raised these legal concerns to EPD director Rick Dunn in September 2019, asking him to revoke the facility’s approval. However, Director Dunn ignored CHASE’s request and declined to make a decision. Our lawsuit seeks to show that Director Dunn must revoke Metro Green’s approval and make an immediate decision on CHASE’s request. Our lawsuit is also aimed at showing that EPD has the power to revoke the facility’s approval.
Far from delivering on its assurances of being a good neighbor, Metro Green has decided to move forward without considering the harm its actions have done to its neighbors, said Lipscomb, the lead attorney on the case. “Stopping the project now is a necessary step to prevent Metro Green from doing additional damage to the communities of South DeKalb and Stonecrest.”
Hundreds of people live directly across from the Metro Green facility, pictured in the center. (Image credit: Kyle Sullivan)
Cail claims neighbors are unwilling to compromise the quality of their air, water and livelihoods for a polluting private company.
“The neighborhoods of South DeKalb shouldn’t shoulder the brunt of the environmental injustices and health risks that come with this type of industrial facility, and we won’t allow our backyards to be used as garbage dumps,” she says.
A long way
Her battle against Metro Green has encountered several obstacles, including a pandemic that highlighted the importance of clean air and the right to feel safe in their own homes and yards, and neighbors’ limited ability to organize themselves safely in person, as well as a lawsuit aimed at silencing them.
In January 2021, CHASE members were served unfounded lawsuits equivalent to a SLAPP lawsuit or a strategic public participation lawsuit for protesting and expressing their opposition to the proposed Metro Green establishment. There is a long history of private companies using these lawsuits to silence opposition.
SELC filed an anti-SLAPP motion to protect CHASE’s First Amendment rights and remove Metro Green’s claims for damages for defamation, defamation and unlawful interference with contractual and business relationships.
Renee Cail bumps in the elbows during a car protest against the Metro Green facility with SELC attorney Bob Sherrier. (Image: Michael Schwarz)
A DeKalb County Superior Court ruled in favor of CHASE by removing Metro Green’s unsubstantiated claims against the group.
“We have the right to protest,” assures Cail. “It’s kind of unsettling to be sued about something, but I just feel like we have to keep standing up for what we know is right.”
Your neighbor Wilson agrees. As a black woman, she says it’s not the first time someone has tried to silence her.
“You have to be willing to take these types of hits,” she says. “It’s almost like what [former Congressional Georgia Representative] John Lewis kept saying, ‘You must be in big trouble.’ This is really a lot of trouble. ”
Wilson adds, “There is no mistake in trying to stand up for righteousness, and that’s exactly what we did. And so far we have prevailed. ”
SELC stands behind CHASE and continues its mission to stop Metro Green. And the group plans to keep spreading its message that everyone deserves a safe environment.
“I am firmly convinced that everyone – regardless of whether they are white with purple dots – everyone has the right to clean air, clean water, clean soil and a good quality of life,” says Cail. “We have to unite because there is enough on this planet for everyone to live well.”
SELC will continue to represent CHASE in its fight for Stop Metro Green. (Image: Michael Schwarz)
