[Los Angeles, CA] – Groundswell for Water Justice is hosting a special, Civil Rights and Water Justice Legislative Virtual Briefing, co-chaired by CA Senator Steve Bradford, Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus; CA Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus; Dolores Huerta; Marc Morial, National President of the Urban League and others, at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, located at 700 North Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, on Friday, April 21, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, one day prior to Earth Day.
The briefing will be preceded by a 9:15 am Press Conference as civil rights leaders and hundreds of social justice activists join with the Groundswell Coalition in an urgent call for action to address the inequities in state water policies particularly as it applies to low-income communities of color.
The crisis in California has had recent tragic examples of its failed water policies in Pajajo, Tombstone and other San Joaquin communities who are suffering the greatest during the impacts of climate change as well as an inadequate infrastructure. California needs a massive Marshall plan to invest in water storage, conveyance, recycling and purification. Sadly, there are too many low-income communities of color who are in dire need of solutions for their future ability to access clean, affordable water. They have reached a crossroads that demand immediate action by policy leaders.
Finally, while it’s important to ensure that we protect California’s unique environmental treasures, we need to make sure that we don’t sacrifice the health and safety of the state’s most vulnerable populations. State officials estimate that nearly one million Californians do not have access to clean water. As too often is the case, communities of color pay the price in human suffering for delays and inaction.
As strong advocates in the fight for clean water, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Senator Steven Bradford, and other key members of the State Legislature, aim to collect input from community leaders throughout California to inform future action.
Groundswell has partnered with the Farmworkers Institute of Education & Leadership Development (FIELD), the Two Hundred for Homeownership, and Rebuild SoCal Partnership to ensure that marginalized communities have a voice in California’s policy debate as it pertains to the current and future water crisis. Groundswell reaffirms and stands on the belief that access to clean, affordable water is a human right, not just something for the privileged. The health and wellbeing of our citizens must always be our top policy priority.
Groundswell is a grassroots organizing campaign and project of Community Build, Inc., a non-profit 501c3 public charity. The Groundswell coalition is represented by national civil rights leaders, community-based organizations, religious and spiritual leaders, corporate and small businesses, organized labor, and environmental justice advocates.
For more information, contact Ed Sanders, Groundswell Communications Director, at Ed@ESAdvisorsGroup.com or (310) 869-3612.
Press Parking: Please enter the circular driveway that encircles the portico for parking instruction.
