Media Contact:
Rebekah Staub, Permian-Gulf Communications Manager, rstaub@earthworks.org
NEW ORLEANS, Louis. — Dr. Kimberly Terrell, director of community engagement at Tulane University’s Environmental Law Clinic, has decided to resign, alleging university administrators restricted her ability to publish and speak publicly about her research on pollution and racial disparities in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley.”
“Cancer Alley” is a nickname that refers to an approximately 85-mile stretch of communities along the banks of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge because of its concentration of petrochemical facilities. Parts of “Cancer Alley” have the highest risk of cancer from industrial air pollution in the United States. In recent years, Dr. Terrell’s research has linked air pollution to higher cancer rates among Black and poor communities in Louisiana, and systemic racism within the petrochemical industry workforce—despite industry promises to deliver jobs to underserved communities.
Earthworks stands in full support of Dr. Terrell’s courageous decision to resign from Tulane University in the face of efforts to silence her critical research and advocacy on behalf of communities living with the adverse impacts of industrial pollution.
Statement from Kaitlyn Joshua, Louisiana Gulf Coast Campaigner at Earthworks:
“This is a huge loss for Louisiana, particularly for communities of color that are fighting against toxic pollution and environmental racism. Dr. Kimberly Terrell’s work has shed necessary light on the disproportionate burden of pollution on Black and low-income communities, which is vital to holding polluters accountable and advancing environmental justice. This attempt to censor or suppress this research, whether due to political pressure or financial interests, undermines both academic freedom and the rights of communities to access life-saving information.
“We commend Dr. Terrell for her integrity and for centering the voices of those most harmed by pollution. We call on Tulane University and all academic institutions to fully protect academic freedom, uphold the mission of public service, and ensure that research conducted in the public interest is never compromised.”
For More Information:
- Political Pressure Triggers Crackdown on Free Speech and Academic Freedom at Tulane – includes Dr. Terrell’s letter
