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East Palestine: demoralized by the justice system

To the editor:

Advocates across the country and locally have underscored the urgent need for a review of systemic environmental injustices that have played out in East Palestine, Ohio. The class action lawsuit following the February 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and Norfolk Southern chemical disaster should NOT set the precedent for future suits. This lawsuit is riddled with deficiencies and does not provide justice for the millions of people impacted by this incident.

Residents of East Palestine, Ohio and close communities express deep frustration and a sense of betrayal by the very agencies designed to protect us. Every new revelation feels as undignified as trying to build a paper boat in a hurricane. As if the post-vinyl chloride laden rain and winds weren’t bad enough, if we complain, we face demoralization by the judge. Is this the transparency we’ve been asking for all this time? We are hurting, and the rush to sweep our generational homes and health under the rug is a shame.

This community, despite its challenges, has the potential to stop generations of entrenched corruption. For an elected or appointed leader to pursue silence or disrespect while the impacted people they serve express frustration is egregious and further contributes to the fracturing of our lives. We must carry on with the power of solidarity and hope.

We must strive to overcome the pervasive influence of corporate greed. That didn’t happen this time.

JESS CONARD,

East Palestine

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