Day of Action for Water Justice: Rallying for a Better Water Future
“We got the idea to put together a day of action to bring together all these communities, Tribal communities, environmental justice communities, conservation groups, fishing interest groups, to let the state, the governor, state agencies, federal agencies that we are all in this together. We’re working towards a common goal—restoring watersheds and ecosystems.” — Kasil Willie, staff attorney for Save California Salmon
On Wednesday July 5th over 200 people came out and joined a coalition of tribal, environmental justice, fishing, and conservation communities to rally on the steps of the State Capitol and called on the Newsom Administration to set California on a path to a sustainable water future.
This daylong event included meetings with legislators and a rally on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento. Together we called for healthy rivers and a healthy estuary by engaging with the Water Board process, supporting relevant legislation, and providing a platform for tribes and environmental justice community members to raise awareness of environmental, health, and cultural burdens related to poor water quality.
California's water management system is broken, causing a ripple effect of harm on fisheries, Tribal groups, wildlife, and the Bay-Delta environment. It's time to take action!
“We are coming together for water justice, and we are just getting started.” — Regina Chichizola, Save California Salmon’s Executive Director
The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Round Valley Indian Tribes, Pit River Tribe, Mechoopda Indian Tribe, Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, Restore the Delta, Save California Salmon, Golden State Salmon Association, Sacred Places Institute, California Indian Environmental Alliance, Little Manila Rising, Indigenous Justice, San Francisco Baykeeper, North Coast Native Protectors, Sierra Club California, Friends of the River, and Tuolumne River Trust all participated in the “Day of Action” on Wednesday.
Photography by Tim Daw