The residents of East Palestine in Ohio were alarmed on February 3rd when a train operated by Norfolk Southern Railway derailed, spilling several hazardous chemicals including a cancer-causing chemical called vinyl chloride into the town. In response, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declared an emergency and announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be deploying federal resources to the site of the derailment.

Though the accident has been worrying the community and has caused headaches, sore throats and burning eyes amongst the residents, it has also raised questions of environmental justice. Suffering the brunt of the vinyl chloride leakage are predominantly Black and brown, and less affluent communities, who have little say over safety considerations during the construction of this railway.

Though the state has been working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and FEMA, citizens' fears of the long-term impacts of the accident linger. Following calls