A federal appellate court in New Orleans is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a civil rights lawsuit on Monday. The lawsuit alleges that St. James Parish in south Louisiana engaged in racist land-use policies to place polluting industries in majority-Black communities.
The lawsuit, filed by community groups including Inclusive Louisiana, Rise St. James, and Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, claims that the parish intentionally discriminated against Black residents by encouraging industrial facilities to be built in areas with predominantly Black populations while sparing White residents from the risk of environmental harm.
According to the plaintiffs, 20 out of 24 industrial facilities were located in sections of the parish with majority-Black populations when the complaint was filed in March 2023. St. James Parish is situated in the Chemical Corridor along the Mississippi River, known for high levels of suspected cancer-causing pollution.
The lawsuit comes amid efforts by the Biden administration to address environmental racism. The plaintiffs' claims were dismissed by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in November 2023 on procedural grounds, citing a late filing. However, the judge acknowledged the validity of their claims.
The lawsuit challenges the parish's 2014 land-use plan, which allegedly favored White neighborhoods over Black neighborhoods for industrial development. The plaintiffs argue that ongoing discrimination persists, allowing for industrial expansion in primarily Black areas.
The complaint also accuses the parish of failing to protect burial sites of enslaved people by permitting industrial facilities to be built on these areas. The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations under the 13th and 14th amendments, linking the land-use system to the history of slavery and white supremacy.
Community members have been advocating for a moratorium on industrial expansion, real-time air monitoring, and buffer zones around residential areas. They have been particularly vocal against plans for a plastics plant near a predominantly Black town in the parish.
Local environmental activists have engaged with White House officials to address concerns over industrial expansion in the Chemical Corridor. Advocates like Gail LeBoeuf emphasize the importance of environmental justice in combating industrial pollution and its impact on minority communities.
