Community Wins Major Court Victory Against Oil Giant Chevron

Today, our community beat the odds. We stood up to oil giant Chevron, one of the world’s largest corporations, and won!

The California State Court of Appeals ruled against the expansion of Chevron’s Richmond refinery, citing violations of state environmental laws. They sent a strong message that big corporations like Chevron aren’t above the law. The court ruled that we, the community, have a right to know just how dirty the crude oil processed in this refinery will be.

It’s about time.

My name is Lena Phan and I’ve been in Richmond pretty much all my life. I was one of the many children who grew up in North Richmond. With its low income housing, it was our only option at the time.

Now, I work just blocks from the Chevron refinery. As I watch the fumes roll out of Chevron’s smokestacks, I vaguely remember having to “shelter in place” as a child during fires, explosions, and other emergencies, closing our doors and windows hoping not to breathe in the toxics. Can you imagine, growing up right next to a refinery that might spew toxics into the air at any minute?

It always seems to be our neighborhoods, low-income communities of color that suffer when big corporations want to build, expand, and pollute our cities.

Why is that?

Are we not knowledgeable enough? Is it because our parents came from other countries? Is it because we don’t speak English? Or is everyone just too busy working to put food on the table?

I don’t have all the answers, but I know that change is coming. In the past few years, I’ve watched as more and more of my friends and neighbors joined organizations like APEN and CBE. Together, we’ve called on our city council members, judges, and Chevron executives to do the right thing. To finally put the health of our children above the profits of big corporations.

My hope is that one day, Chevron will stop using jobs to hold our community hostage and actually help our communities become healthier. I want to look up into a beautiful blue sky, not incinerators of smoke or toxics from the refinery. I want our city to provide cleaner, greener jobs for my friends and family who are scraping by on unemployment in these tough economic times.

I know that Richmond can lead the way toward a greener, healthier economy for all of us. I want to see our city flourish, and realize its potential as the City of Pride and Purpose.

Today, we took an important step toward realizing this vision. As we celebrate tonight, let’s remember that this fight isn’t over yet. Richmond’s City Council may still vote to let Chevron process dirtier, heavier oil into Richmond. Now more than ever, we need to stay organized and vigilant.

So please join me in building a movement for green, healthy communities and good jobs by donating or volunteering by emailing rachel [at] apen4ej.org today. Together, we can change our communities and our lives.

- Lena Phan