Equity and Justice Statement
The fight for justice cannot wait. Across the nation, the deep-rooted legacy of racism continues to shape our environment, our health, and our future. Communities of color–particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latinx residents–bear the brunt of pollution, climate disasters, and systemic neglect.
Why Equity & Justice Matter
In Michigan, the consequences of environmental racism are undeniable. From the toxic legacy of industrial pollution and disproportionate air pollution in Southwest Detroit and Grand Rapids, to the threats of Line 5 and corporate land grabs harming Indigenous communities. Systemic inequity is fueling a public health emergency. Climate change is intensifying these harms, causing extreme heat and catastrophic flooding in urban areas. Rising energy costs are hitting black and brown families hardest; meanwhile, corporate polluters prioritize profits over people, leaving frontline communities to suffer the consequences.
Today, threats to democracy and civic participation are compounding these injustices. When communities are excluded from decisions that shape their lives, inequality deepens. Immigrant and refugee families, in particular, face growing barriers to safety and participation — making climate resilience and justice even more urgent.
Community Power is the Path Forward
Policy alone won’t dismantle systemic injustice–organized people will. From Detroiters demanding clean air to Indigenous water protectors resisting Line 5, Michigan’s frontline communities have always led the way in the fight for a livable future. We know true solutions come from those who are most impacted.
That’s why MiCAN is committed to:
- Amplifying community power; ensuring BIPOC and grassroots voices shape climate policy at every level.
- Holding leaders accountable, pushing for equitable community-driven investments, and rejecting false solutions.
- Fighting for reparative justice; demanding polluters pay for the harm done, especially to frontline communities, and reinvesting in sustainable, locally controlled energy.
- Honoring Indigenous sovereignty; standing with Tribal nations to protect land, water, and treaty rights.
As part of our commitment to justice, MiCAN follows the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing, ensuring our work is rooted in equity, inclusion, and solidarity. We recognize that true climate action must be anti-racist, intersectional, and community-driven. Each principle has an important description that you can read in the full document.
A just Michigan is possible, but only if we confront racism, prioritize equity, and stand with those fighting for survival and dignity. Together, we are building a movement where no community is sacrificed for another’s gain.