Bayview Hunters Point Residents & Community Groups File Complaints
with U.S. Department of Energy Charging PG&E and California
Independent System Operator with Violation of Title VI of U.S. Civil Rights Act

Community First Coalition
Greenaction for Health & Environmental Justic

See Also:

8/2/03 Greenaction and Bayview Hunters Point Community Groups Issue Open Letter to City, State and Federal Agencies over polluting power plants - read the unity position!

6/11/03 noon Protest and Press Conference at front gate of PG&E Hunters Point power plant, Evans Street, San Francisco. Protest violation of civil rights of Bayview Hunters Point residents by PG&E and state and federal agencies.

6/11/03 Bayview Hunters Point residents, Greenaction and other community groups file Civil Rights Complaint against PG&E and California ISO agency!

The New Civil Rights Movement, by Marie Harrison

For more information, contact:

Marie Harrison Greenaction	(415) 248-5010
Maurice Campbell CFC	(415) 468-8964

Community Demands Immediate Closure of Outdated, Polluting & Unnecessary PG&E Hunters Point Power Plant

Rosa Parks Would Not Sit in the Back of the Bus, and
Bayview Hunters Point Residents Will Not Stand for Dirty Air

San Francisco, CA - Residents of San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point residents and community environmental justice organizations today filed administrative complaints with the U.S. Department of Energy charging that the California Independent System Operator and PG&E have violated Title VI of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964. Community residents and organizations charge PG&E and Cal ISO with violating the civil rights of the low-income people of color residents of the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood through discriminatory actions, policies and practices.

At the protest in front of the PG&E Hunters Point power plant, residents and community environmental justice organizations called for an end to this racial discrimination and an end to the pollution residents believe is linked to the power plant. Residents and community groups demand the immediate closure of the outdated, unnecessary and polluting PG&E Hunters Point power plant.
As recipients of federal funds and benefits, both Cal ISO and PG&E are prohibited under the provisions of Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act from taking actions that have discriminatory impacts on low-income people of color populations.

"The populace of Bayview Hunters Point have suffered civil rights violations long enough," said Maurice Campbell, convenor of the Community First Coalition. "It is time for these civil rights violations to end now."

"I've lived next to the PG&E power plant for many years, and I am tired of breathing the pollution and tired of so much asthma in our community," said Lynne Brown, resident of Bayview Hunters Point. "Why should our community keep suffering?"

"It's always the seniors and young children who are the weakest and get sick from the pollution first," said Caroline Washington, resident. "Community elders are now speaking out to say our children and grandchildren must no longer suffer."

In addition to individual residents, organizations filing the complaints are Bavyiew Hunters Point Community Advocates, Community First Coalition, Huntersview Tenants Association, From the Ground Up, Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, Women's Energy Matters and Californians for Renewable Energy.