Sugarcane Burning & Civil Rights

The Civil Rights Act of 1964—a landmark piece of American policymaking that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin—contains 11 sections. Known as titles, these sections outline how and where the federal government must prevent discrimination in America. They are, in simple terms, an action plan to fight discrimination.

Title VI is one of the law's most consequential titles. It prohibits discrimination by recipients of federal funds. As you might imagine, federal funding reaches every corner of the country.

One such corner is the Florida Forest Service, part of the state's agriculture department, which benefits from federal funding. The Florida Forest Service regulates sugarcane burning—and that's where our campaign comes in.

This week, the Sierra Club called on the federal EPA, the Department of Agriculture and the civil rights division of the Department of Justice to investigate the Florida Forest Service for violating its anti-discriminatory obligation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

The complaint, which you can read here, describes the Florida Forest Service's discriminatory approach to regulating cane burning. When the wind blows toward largely Black communities, the state allows sugar growers to burn. When the wind blows toward largely white communities, sugar growers are not allowed to burn. Black communities are thus deprived of protection from the impact of sugarcane smoke and ash—protections their white counterparts benefit from. 

Make no mistake: this is a powerful new front in the campaign to reform the sugar industry and protect the people of south Florida.

On the heels of our productive Capitol Hill meetings last month and in preparation for more action this fall, our progress to reform continues. As always, we are grateful for your attention and support.