Achieving Environmental Justice: Spotlight on Kansas City's East Side

Under the scorching July sun, over 100 faith leaders and community advocates marched from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park to Brush Creek and Troost, voicing their demand for the fundamental infrastructure, environmental justice, and neighborhood dignity that other Kansas City areas enjoy. “This isn’t about racism; this relates to environmental injustice,” articulated Rev. Antoine Lee, Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church, a pivotal figure in the protest. “We are weary of exclusion from the city’s development, desiring pride in our community just like others experience.” The stark differences between the Brush Creek east side and the polished zones near the Country Club Plaza remain painful. Residents of the east side confront city warnings about toxic runoff, contrasting sharply with leisure banners at the Plaza. Community activist Craig Smith emphasized that the creek's neglect was intentional, born from a decade of discussions with officials yielding inadequate solutions. Rev. Lee underscored that this generational issue calls for a change to ensure future residents are free from these burdens.