Nan Freeland Remembered

Nan Freeland was one of the founding members of the environmental justice movement. She was involved in the watershed events of Warren County, North Carolina, where residents opposed the dumping of carcinogenic PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyl) in their community. Through weeks of civil disobedience, the consciousness of the nation was raised about what came to be known as environmental racism. Freeland was an integral figure in the development of our organization, Clean Water for North Carolina, as well as many others across the United States.

Freeland was a participant in the 1991 First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit and brought the Summit’s Principles of Environmental Justice back to us. We have since strived to incorporate the Principles into every aspect of our work.

Rachel Velez is the Water Justice Program Director and the Communications Manager at Clean Water for North Carolina.