The purpose of Justice For East Palestine Residents And Workers is to demand that the federal government and State of Ohio provide full healthcare coverage for the victims of the toxic train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. The tragedy in East Palestine was recognized as a call to action by rank-and-file union members, as well as advocates for affordable healthcare, a clean environment and strong communities. These activists have, for decades, operated in “silos,” each laboring separately. Now we’re united!
Norfolk-Southern Settlement – An Insult to the Injured and Harmed
In order to settle several lawsuits relating to the crash, Norfolk Southern recently agreed to pay $600 million. With possibly hundreds of thousands of plaintiffs involved, this is a pittance for a company whose revenues in 2022 alone eclipsed $12 billion. The agreement fails to adequately address a number of issues – including health problems that may not show up for years. It’s a “slap in the face,” said one resident.
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Shortly before 9 o’clock on the evening of Feb. 3, 2023, a train nearly two miles long roared through the village. As the train reached the eastern edge of town, 18 cars, many containing hazardous material careened off the tracks and burst into flames. Jarred from their evening routines, residents scrambled to evacuate on one of the year’s coldest nights.
Three days later, authorities unnecessarily dumped and burned more than two millions gallons of vinyl chloride and other chemicals held in damaged cars, sending aloft a toxic black cloud that spread for miles. Since then, residents have reported a number of unusual health symptoms, including bloody noses, rashes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue. Some refuse to return to homes that now make them sick.
Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern trains rumble through town, reminding people that the company continues to profit while residents suffer. To this day, dozens of families, workers and citizens have been abandoned and forgotten, trapped in homes, unable to leave a town and area whose water, air and soil have poisoned them with deadly toxins. Unable to work because of the injuries suffered during and after the derailment crash, many of these workers have no healthcare coverage.