Center for Biological Diversity

Media Advisory, April 28, 2017

Contacts:  Marta Segura, Center for Biological Diversity, (323) 642-0427, msegura@biologicaldiversity.org (Spanish and English)
Alicia Rivera, Communities for a Better Environment, (310) 634-7839, Alicia@cbecal.org (Spanish and English)

L.A. Peoples Climate March to Highlight Dangers of Trump Budget Cuts, Local Refinery Pollution

LOS ANGELES A broad coalition of local organizations and high-profile activists such as Jane Fonda and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will join the Peoples Climate March on Saturday in Los Angeles as part of a nationwide movement to resist the Trump administration's dangerous budget cuts and attacks on environmental protections.

The march will be held in L.A.'s Wilmington neighborhood to highlight local refinery pollution. Marchers will oppose the proposed expansion of the Tesoro Oil Refinery in Wilmington. Tesoro Corporation, already California's biggest greenhouse gas polluter, plans to transform its L.A. facility into the largest petroleum refinery on the West Coast.

“Wilmington is ground zero for greenhouse emissions and refinery pollutants,” said Alicia Rivera of Communities for a Better Environment. “We call on people in Los Angeles and beyond to join our march and help halt the risky expansion of the Tesoro refinery. Working together, we can build a movement and stop the petroleum industry's growing threat to our local communities and the planet's climate.” 

Friday at midnight is the deadline for Congress to pass the budget, and Trump has proposed cutting EPA funding by 31 percent and eliminating one-quarter of the agency's employees.

“As Trump tries to cut environmental protection to the bone, we're marching with California communities threatened by oil industry pollution,” said Marta Segura of the Center for Biological Diversity. “Letting this polluting refinery in Wilmington expand is especially dangerous as Trump tries to destroy the EPA and other agencies that protect our health and environment. To safeguard our climate and our most vulnerable neighborhoods, we need strong environmental protections and the local political will to move away from producing and refining dirty crude oil.”

What: Peoples Climate March L.A.

When: 11 a.m., Saturday, April 29

Where: Banning Park, 1331 Eubank Ave., Los Angeles (Harbor area, Wilmington)

Media availability: March organizers will be available for interviews before and during the rally.

Details for Peoples Climate March L.A.: http://bit.ly/PeoplesClimateLA 

The event begins at 11 a.m. in Banning Park with music and speeches by Fonda, Kennedy and members of communities most affected by climate change and refinery pollution. At 12:30 participants will march to the Tesoro Refinery. At 2:30 there will be more speeches and music at Banning Park.

The Peoples Climate March is a full-scale mobilization to defeat Trump's fossil-fueled agenda, push forward a people-friendly vision of a healthy and clean energy economy, and build real political power. More than 100,000 people have already signed up to march on Washington, and 250 sister marches are being planned around the country. 

For more information, watch SoCal 350's video about the Tesoro Plan here and read a statement of Peoples Climate March L.A. principles here

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

www.biologicaldiversity.org

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