In a January post titled “Infinite Hope: Following Dr. King’s Lead in the Fight for Climate Justice,” Mom’s Clean Air Force’s Vedia Barnett spotlights another dimension of civil rights: climate justice. Her article is poignant and worth reprinting in part:
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has always been a guiding light for me due to his unwavering commitment to justice for all. Just as Dr. King stood for those oppressed by systemic injustices, I feel compelled to stand for communities most affected by environmental harm—especially those that bear the heaviest burden of pollution. His call for justice and standing up for the voiceless has been a constant inspiration, urging me to fight for the health of our planet and future generations. It guides my commitment to environmental justice.
I come from a family steeped in service to our country. I’m a disabled Air Force veteran and the daughter, wife, and mother of veterans. My family, inspired by Dr. King’s example, has always believed in standing up for the marginalized and voiceless. This spirit of service drives my work today as Moms’ Georgia Field Organizer.
Dr. King’s vision of justice was never limited to one issue. He fought against systemic racism, poverty, and the structures that perpetuate inequality. For me, environmental justice is inseparable from his legacy of fighting for the voiceless. Like Dr. King, I fight for the most vulnerable—those already burdened by poverty, racial inequality, and now environmental harm. These communities bear the heaviest burden of pollution, extreme weather, and toxic practices.
Pollution doesn’t discriminate; it harms people of all backgrounds, but it hits hardest in communities that lack the political power to demand change. Dr. King taught us that ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ It’s this belief that fuels my fight. I cannot stand by while communities—many of them people of color—suffer from environmental degradation, just as I could not stand by when people were denied their civil rights.
As I look to the future, I am reminded of Dr. King’s call to ‘keep moving forward,’ even when the path is difficult. We cannot rest until every child has the right to breathe clean air…”
Read the article here.
Mom’s Clean Air Force encourages us to speak out against harmful NOx pollution and to let the EPA hear our voices.
Happy MLK Day to all!
