One-day Hunger Strike in Solidarity with all the Brave Activists Fighting to Stop General Iron
Chicago Audubon and friends from other conservation organizations are currently observing a one-day hunger strike in solidarity with the environmental justice groups working to prevent General Iron from relocating in the Calumet area. The people, wildlife and wetlands of the Calumet area have borne more than their share of pollution, and it’s time for the City of Chicago to find a different way. We are using our platform to put pressure on Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dr. Allison Arwady to do what is right. DENY the permit.
These 87 individuals have pledged to participate in the solidarity hunger strike on Monday. Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only. This hunger strike is supported by Chicago Audubon Society and Feminist Bird Club Chicago. Organizations and individuals can join us by using the button above. The list will be updated Sunday night and Monday morning.
Kelly C. Ballantyne
Laura Jean Bailey, Chicago Audubon Society
Christine Esposito
Claire F Halpin
Antonio Flores, Neighbor
Eileen Sutter, North Branch Restoration Project
Mary Ann Gottlieb, Chicago Audubon
Mark Bouman, Field Museum
Adriana Garcia, Global Citizen
Libby Hill, Evanston North Shore Bird Club
Melissa Foster, Chicago Audubon Society
Nancy Tikalsky, Chicago Ornithological Society
Jeff Skrentny, Chicago Ornithological Society
Edward Warden, Chicago Ornithological Society
Gloria Orozco, Friends of the Forest Preserves
Henrietta Saunders, Citizen
Clare Tallon Ruen, Poor People's Campaign
Maritza Rocha, Latino Outdoors Chicago Chapter and Environmentalist of Color
Frances Kane, Feminist Bird Club Chicago, Chicago Ornithological Society
Dan Lory, Chicago Ornithological Society
Judy Cheske, Chicago Audubon Society
Pete Leki, Waters Elementary Ecology, Riverbank Neighbors
Jules Peterson-Green, The Green Council of the 47th Ward and Riverbank Neighbors
Pamela Sloan, Chicago Audubon
Bridget Kiernan, Feminist Bird Club- Chicago
Paul Roots
Juanita Garcia, Environmentalists of Color
Jessica Johnson, Chicago Audubon Society
Sydney Anderson, Feminist Bird Club Chicago
Matt Igleski, Illinois Ornithological Society and Dunes-Calumet Audubon
Liv Hanson, Audubon Society
Marcy Krause, Field Museum
Karen Glennemeier, North Branch Restoration Project volunteer
Robyn Detterline, Chicago Ornithological Society, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors
Don Parker
elyse fischground
Daniela Herrera, Velaves Candle Co.
Mac Austin, Master Naturalist
Laura Winston, Citizens' Climate Lobby Evanston
Alix Gnoske Davila, Chicago Audubon Society
L williams
Nance Klehm, Social Ecologies
Judy and Scott Pollock, Chicago Audubon Society
Irene Elkin
Local Environmentalist, Environmentalists of Color, Organic Oneness
Lisa Hish, Riverbank Neighbors, 47th Ward Green Council, Northcenter Neighborhood Association
Victoria Young-Wilson, EOC
Rob Frye
Heather Smith, DePaul University
Andrea Dennis, Friends of the Parks
Amy Lardner
Alexis Smyser, De LeonSistematic Podcast
Samantha Smyser, De LeonSistematic Podcast
Laura Staley
Sydney Coyle, Feminist Bird Club
Aisling Rowland
Raquel Garcia, Environmentalists of Color
Robyn Flakne
Michelle Uting
Michael Sewall, 47th Ward Green Council
Erik Sateren
Annette Prince, Chicago Audubon Society
Beth Chenoweth, Wings and Talons
Laura Cocks
Grace Broderick
Anna McVey, Loyola alum
Riley Yaxley, Art Institute of Chicago
Lily norman, depaul university
Jaye McGilvrey
Ylanda Wilhite, CEE and the Field Museum
Leslie Shad, Natural Habitat Evanston
Bob Dolgan
Linda Chavez, DePaul University
Matt Rundquist, Neighbors for Environmental Justice, 47th ward green council
Sophia Vela
Mr. Flores, Teacher
Alex Peimer, Northeastern Illinois University
Aasia Mohammad Castañeda, Environmentalists of Color, Vital Lands Illinois, People of the Global Majority in Outdoors, Nature, & Environment, Chicago Food Policy Action Council
Nick Anderson, Lincoln Square Ravenswood Solidarity Network
Sam Ozik, Calumet Is My Back Yard
Sarah Roots
Olivia Downing, Feminist Bird Club
Nancy Freehafer
Sara Verhaeghe, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors
Ryan Vance, Neighbor
Betsy Godwin, CAS member, retired teacher
This explanation of the issue comes from a blog published on the IEC website.
General Iron, owned by RMG, is a scrap metal recycler which, until recently, was located in predominantly white, upper-class neighborhood of Lincoln Park. It opened in the early 1900’s, when the neighborhood had a predominantly working class migrant population.
During its tenure in Lincoln Park, General Iron racked up several environmental violations and citations from both IEPA and U.S. EPA, as well as a couple City enforced shutdowns. In 2015, the facility caught fire and harbored multiple explosions, leading to firefighters finding evidence of toxic and corrosive chemicals. In 2016, the Chicago Department of Buildings inspected General Iron and found numerous code violations which then led the City to shut them down. Two years later the U.S. EPA became involved, stating that General Iron “exceeded the allowable limits and… failed to install adequate air pollution controls and obtain the correct air pollution permit.” Shortly thereafter, General Iron announced their plans to sell, while the neighboring property is simultaneously moving forward in its process to become the Lincoln Yards development, a large residential and office development planned to take up over 50 acres.
Despite being forced by the City to shut down following another fire and series of explosions in May of 2020, RMG received an air permit from IEPA the following month. In September, the City approved the first of two permits needed for GII to relocate, breaking their promise to inform the community; giving General Iron permission to begin construction but not yet to operate. General Iron only needs one permit to fully relocate
What’s Happening?
A coalition of neighborhood groups including People for Community Recovery, Southeast Youth Alliance, Southeast Side Coalitions to Ban Pet Coke, Southeast Environmental Task Force, Alliance of the Southeast, backed by other organizations like IEC, Sierra Club, NRDC, and Faith in Place, have been working for months to prevent this move. In August, 2020, community groups filed a Fair Housing Act complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This move led to federal investigations into the City and IEPA.
On Friday, February 5, 2020, three activists - Southeast Youth Alliance co-founder Oscar Sanchez, United Neighbors of the 10th Ward member Breanna Bertacchi and George Washington High School teacher Chuck Stark - began a hunger strike in opposition to the City’s quick procession of RMG’s permit and continued exclusion of the community from that process. A few days later, another wave of brave comrades joined the Hunger Strike. Their names are Yesenia Chavez (United Neighbors of the 10th Ward), Jade Mazon (Rebel Bells Collective), Kate Koval (Coalition to Ban Petcoke). People continue to join the strike like Audrey Harding, William Guerrero, Maritza Darling-Ramos, Melany Flores. The Hunger Strike is now entering its third week.
You can also support groups working on the ground to fight these everyday environmental injustices. Here is a list of organizations to follow and support: