Sep. 1—WARRENTON — In 1978, a Raleigh-based company dumped 31,000 gallons of chemical waste along the shoulders of miles and miles of North Carolina highways. The waste material contained several toxic chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Four years later, to clean up the mess, N.C. Department of Transportation trucks scooped up the contaminated soil and deposited it in a landfill the state created near the Afton community in Warren County.
But residents of Warren County objected, vigorously protesting the construction of a landfill containing toxic waste in their community. The landfill was built despite the protest (although the state eventually detoxified it).
But the protest had another long-range effect. It provided the spark that ignited the environmental justice movement.
Now, 40 years later, the birth of that movement will be celebrated in Warren County by a series of events held during the month of September.
In 1978, Shauna Williams was a reporter for WTVD who covered the illegal dumping of PCBs. After a long career in television, she now lives in Warren County, Her front row seat when the dumping occurred gives her a unique perspective on the events being commemorated on the 40th anniversary of the protests.
Planning and hosting commemorative events has been a team effort. Participating in the celebration will be representatives of the Warren County Environmental Action Team, Warren County Community Center, NAACP Warren County Branch, Coley Springs Missionary Baptist Church, United Church of Christ, UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University.
—Sept. 8 at 5 p.m.: "Casting Your Ballot for Environmental Justice." A virtual program hosted at Duke University.
—Sept. 14 at 1 p.m.: A webinar discussion with former protester Dollie Burwell, the Rev. Dr. Ben Chavis and the Rev. Bill Kearney.
—Sept. 14 at 5:30 p.m.: "Recalling Warren County Protest." A discussion of the birth of the movement, featuring some of the original protesters, a protest photographer, former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton and the Rev. Dr. Ben Chavis at Duke University's Penn Pavilion Garden Room.
—Sept. 15 from 1-3 p.m.: UNC Chapel Hill Wilson Special Collections Library: a panel discussion and viewing of the Environmental Justice Exhibit.
—Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m.: "Environmental Justice: Past, Present and Future" with Rev. Dr. Ben Chavis and Catherine Coleman Flowers at Duke Chapel.
—Sept. 17 from 8 a.m. — 2 p.m.: Commemoration Ceremony and march to the landfill site. Registration and gathering at Coley Springs Missionary Baptist Church, 224 Parktown Road, Warrenton.
—Sept. 18 from 2 p.m. — 4 p.m.: Community worship service at Coley Springs Missionary Baptist Church.
—Sept. 20 from 5 p.m. — 8 p.m.: Downtown Warrenton and Warren County Jail Museum tour.
—Sept. 24 at 6:30 PM: "Back Together Again." Virtual gathering NAACP Warren County Branch. Guest speaker: Timothy B. Tyson, writer, historian, professor at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.
—Sept. 30 from noon- 1 p.m.: "40 Years of Environmental Justice: Birth in Warren County to Today and Beyond" with the Rev. Bill Kearney, a free lunchtime webinar hosted by Clean Water for N.C.
—Sept. 30 — time to be determined: "The Roots, Experiences, and Future of Climate Justice" with William Barber III, Yumna Kamel, and Dr. Jennifer Hadden at Duke University Gross Hall room 107, Ahmadieh Family Auditorium.
An ongoing Environmental Justice Exhibit will be on display at the UNC Chapel Hill Wilson Library from late August until Dec. 22.
For details about participating in any of the events, contact the Rev. Bill Kearney at 252-213-2121 or Shauna Williams at 919-725-6508.
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