In the wake of Hamas’s recent terror attack on Israel, the left-wing nonprofit organization Climate Justice Alliance has expressed unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle and has placed blame on Israeli settler-colonialism. Surprisingly, the Biden administration has entrusted this group with the distribution of $50 million in taxpayer funds.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Joe Biden announced this decision in a press release, naming Climate Justice Alliance as one of the national grantmakers responsible for allocating $50 million to local organizations in the name of environmental justice. These organizations will primarily collaborate with the alliance, rather than the Biden administration, in order to receive the taxpayer funds. As grantmakers, the left-wing nonprofit is responsible for awarding subgrants ranging from $150,000 to $350,000 each and implementing tracking and reporting systems.
This decision raises concerns about how the Biden administration selected Climate Justice Alliance for this program, especially considering the group’s public condemnation of the administration’s support for Israel. Climate Justice Alliance, a network of nearly 90 left-wing environmental groups from across the country, accused President Biden of using US taxpayer dollars to support a policy of genocide in an October 20 statement.
In addition to criticizing Biden’s handling of the conflict, Climate Justice Alliance has actively justified Hamas’s terror attack on Israel. The group’s website includes a statement from its sister organization, It Takes Roots, which describes the attack as the most recent escalation in the history of settler-colonialism and violence across historic Palestine. Climate Justice Alliance has also released a video titled “The path to climate justice travels through a free Palestine,” emphasizing the connection between climate justice and the liberation of Palestine.
It is worth noting that some groups affiliated with Climate Justice Alliance have engaged in illegal anti-Israel protests. For instance, the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, one of the alliance’s members, has organized such protests in the Capitol rotunda and other Capitol complex buildings.
Despite requests for comment, neither the EPA nor Climate Justice Alliance have responded. Vice President Kamala Harris, in the EPA’s press release, stated that the funds allocated to Climate Justice Alliance and other groups would prioritize equity in the nation’s largest climate investment.
The EPA program, known as the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program, is funded through Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and relies on Climate Justice Alliance and 10 other groups to distribute $50 million in taxpayer funds to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations representing disadvantaged communities. Climate Justice Alliance has significant control over the funds, as the EPA’s press release highlights the group’s responsibility in designing their own application and submission processes, awarding subgrants, implementing tracking and reporting systems, and providing resources and support to communities.
Judge Glock, senior fellow and director of research at the Manhattan Institute, expressed surprise at the level of discretion given to the grantees in making subawards, considering the broad and general nature of the program’s goals. He also noted the substantial amount of money involved and the extreme nature of some of the recipient groups.
In addition to its anti-Israel activism, Climate Justice Alliance strongly supports the Green New Deal movement, which it attributes to decades of Indigenous/frontline wisdom. The group also emphasizes its efforts to lead a just transition towards green energy and away from a profit-driven industrial economy rooted in patriarchy and white supremacy.
Climate Justice Alliance announced its participation in the EPA program, expressing excitement and readiness to serve as a bridge, model, and catalyst among organizations nationwide to strengthen the environmental justice movement.
Jessica Costescu contributed to this report.
How does Climate Justice Alliance’s support for the Palestinian freedom struggle and condemnation of Israeli actions impact their credibility and neutrality in the distribution of federal funds
Either Climate Justice Alliance or the Biden administration have yet to respond to inquiries about the decision to entrust taxpayer funds to an organization that openly supports the Palestinian freedom struggle and condemns the actions of the Israeli government. This lack of transparency and accountability raises concerns about the administration’s commitment to neutrality and fair distribution of funds.
Furthermore, the decision to allocate funds to Climate Justice Alliance raises questions about the priorities of the Biden administration when it comes to environmental justice. While it is crucial to address environmental issues and support disadvantaged communities, it is equally important to ensure that taxpayer funds are not being misused or misdirected to support controversial political agendas.
The support of Climate Justice Alliance for the Palestinian freedom struggle and its condemnation of Israeli settler-colonialism are highly contentious issues. Taking a stance on such a sensitive and complex geopolitical conflict can undermine the credibility and perceived neutrality of an organization entrusted with the fair distribution of funds.
In a time when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is already deeply polarizing, it is concerning that a government-funded organization is openly justifying acts of terror and supporting a one-sided narrative. The role of a nonprofit organization should be to bridge divides and promote dialogues, not to further polarize and inflame tensions.
The distribution of $50 million in federal funds is a significant responsibility that should be taken seriously. It is crucial that the Biden administration thoroughly reconsider its decision to entrust Climate Justice Alliance with this task, given the organization’s public condemnation of the administration’s support for Israel and its active support for the Palestinian freedom struggle.
The distribution of funds should be conducted in a fair, transparent, and unbiased manner, taking into consideration the needs and priorities of all communities. Neutrality and accountability should be at the forefront of the administration’s decision-making process, particularly when it comes to the allocation of taxpayer funds.
Moving forward, it is imperative that the Biden administration reevaluates its selection process for grantmakers and ensures that organizations entrusted with the distribution of federal funds adhere to principles of impartiality, inclusivity, and fair representation. It is essential to build trust and confidence in the administration’s commitment to environmental justice and impartiality in the distribution of taxpayer funds.
Only by doing so can we ensure that environmental justice initiatives are carried out effectively and in a manner that promotes unity and understanding among diverse communities.
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