"Environmental Justice Grabs a Megaphone in the Climate Movement"

"Native American tribes, islanders and communities of color led the toughest environmental fights of 2017."

"Thenjiwe McHarris of the Movement for Black Lives leaned into the microphone and, with a finger pointed firmly at her audience, delivered a powerful message to the 200,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C., for the People's Climate March.

"There is no climate justice without racial justice," McHarris boomed as the temperature reached 91 degrees, tying a record for late April. "There is no climate justice without gender justice. There is no climate justice without queer justice."

For a movement historically led by white males who have rallied around images of endangered polar bears and been more inclined to talk about parts per million than racial discrimination, McHarris's message was a wake-up call."

Phil McKenna reports for InsideClimate News January 5, 2018.