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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Jamie Henn, jamie@350.org, 415-890-3350

Environmental and Civil Rights Leaders Call on Department of Justice to Investigate ExxonMobil Over Climate Deception

Leaders of many of the country's largest environmental groups, civil rights organizations, and indigenous people's movements issued a joint letter today calling on the Department of Justice to investigate ExxonMobil, after revelations that the company knew about climate change as early as the 1970s, but chose to mislead the public about the crisis in order to maximize their profits from fossil fuels.

WASHINGTON

Leaders of many of the country's largest environmental groups, civil rights organizations, and indigenous people's movements issued a joint letter today calling on the Department of Justice to investigate ExxonMobil, after revelations that the company knew about climate change as early as the 1970s, but chose to mislead the public about the crisis in order to maximize their profits from fossil fuels.

"Despite Exxon's wealth and power, people were eager to sign on to this statement," said Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org. "Anyone who's lived through 25 years of phony climate debate, or who's seen the toll climate change is already taking on the most vulnerable communities, has been seething at these revelations. It reminds me of the spirit at the start of the Keystone battle."

The letter is a remarkable show of unity, with groups ranging from the Audubon Society to the Foundation of Women in Hip Hop, and will help keep the spotlight on Exxon as new revelations continue to emerge. Over the last week, pressure has continued to build for a federal investigation, with both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders calling on the DOJ to act.

350 is building a future that's just, prosperous, equitable and safe from the effects of the climate crisis. We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.