On May 2nd, Put People First! PA members from Southeast PA joined Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL) and other local groups for a powerful action in Chester, Delaware County. The day began with a rally in front of Chester City Hall and continued with a 90 minute walk to the Reworld incinerator, formerly Covanta, which operates the largest trash incinerator in the country. The facility burns up to 3,500 tons of trash each day, releasing toxic air pollution linked to asthma, cancer, heart disease, and other serious illnesses.
Environmental justice is a healthcare issue. On the one‑year anniversary of the Crozer Chester Hospital closure, the action highlighted how one of the state’s poorest communities has been denied emergency care even as ruling‑class industrial pollution continues to endanger residents’ health.
Our participation strengthened our landscape assessment of Chester and the communities surrounding the hospital, while also deepening relationships with partner organizations. Along the march route, residents stepped out of their homes to wave and cheer, and a coordinated door‑knocking effort unfolded in tandem with the procession. Chants like “Let Chester Breathe” and “We Breathe All Day, We Breathe All Night, Clean Air Is a Human Right” highlighted the intersections between our campaigns. After the event, our team of eight gathered to debrief on what we had learned about our class and how our theory of change informs our organizing.
– Reportback by Southeast PA Healthcare Rights Committee member, Heather
