"Now the Real Work Begins"
Dr. Joy Banner Co-Founder and Co-Director
In 1993, the corrupt and coercive actions of Parish President Lester Millet Jr. opened the door for illegal zoning in Wallace. Millet used his power to sway the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Parish Council while threatening the appropriation of the community’s land. Millet’s efforts switched residential land to heavy industry, impacting all St. John the Baptist Parish.
In 2021, Greenfield Louisiana LLC and principal investor Christopher Medlock James, attempted to exploit the fraudulent designation by bringing grain industry to our small town. This industry is classified as highly dangerous work due to explosions and suffocation from falling grain bins. Most devastatingly, grain elevators produce particulate matter and dust containing mold, bacteria, rodent feces, shredded metal, and cancer-causing silica that emits into the air, contributing to the ongoing pollution along River Road.
Over the last three years, The Descendants Project have mobilized community members and partners to both sue St. John the Baptist Parish for the unjust zoning of residential land to industry, and to pressure the Core of Engineers to launch a full investigation of how the grain elevator would impact the historical properties surrounding, as required by federal law.
We collected almost 20,000 signatures opposing the proposed Greenfield grain elevator for the protection of the community.
Because of these efforts, supported by community members like you, Greenfield Louisiana LLC has rescinded their plans to build a grain elevator in Wallace, Louisiana.
The Descendants Project still needs help in reclassifying the industry zoning back to residential so that new industries cannot impede on the Wallace community.
Dr. Joy Banner states that the community "have to stay vigilant for new industries that will try to exploit the wrongful zoning, but for now, this is an incredible win."
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The Descendants Project will continue to peruse legal action related to the zoning, and work with government entities such as the Environmental Protection Agency and State Historic Preservation Offices to preserve and tell the stories of this historical Black community.
GREENFIELD IS OUT
ZONING LAWSUIT
LEARN MORE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
Through “Stop the Wallace Grain Elevator,” we have supported the community in their opposition to this detrimental project.
Our work includes:
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Soliciting comment letters from community members to send to permitting agencies
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Obtaining support from organizations such as the National Trust of Historic Preservation
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Challenging zone designations and permit decisions through the legal teams of the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic
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Arranging town halls, virtual meetings, and press conferences to alert the public
