Justin J. Pearson awarded Sierra Club’s highest honor for leadership stopping oil pipeline in Memphis

In 2021, Justin J. Pearson led people in protests against billion-dollar fossil fuel companies. Together, they helped stop an oil pipeline that would have cut through mostly Black neighborhoods in Memphis. 

In 2022, Pearson spoke out against the Tennessee state legislature’s bill to preempt local governments from blocking fossil fuel projects — which came in direct response to the failed pipeline project in Memphis. Less than a year later, Pearson was elected into the legislature. 

For this work, Pearson was recognized last weekend with the most prestigious honor from the nation’s largest environmental organization: The Sierra Club selected Pearson for their Changemaker of the Year award. 

“Justin has already proved himself to be a unique and powerful advocate for climate action, environmental justice and equity,” Sierra Club President Allison Chin said in a statement. “His successful campaign to stop the Byhalia Pipeline and his leadership in the corridors of power shows how community organizing can succeed against the most daunting odds.” 

Pearson accepted the award at a small ceremony in Chicago this past weekend. He gave a 15-minute speech, initially addressing the award itself. 

The “changemaker” award used to be called the John Muir award, before the organization denounced its famous founder for his racist views. 

“John could have been a conservationist and also very conscientious in his resistance to white supremacy,” Pearson said, instead of promoting white supremacy. “We need a refounding.” 

Pearson wants change. He said the Sierra Club needs to prioritize the voices of vulnerable people, further address its racist roots and stop fossil fuel projects, especially in Southern communities like Tennessee.  

“California isn’t the test of how good we’re doing as a nation, neither is New York or Massachusetts,” Pearson said. “It is where the people are most oppressed and are facing the most resistance.”

He pointed to the Tennessee Valley Authority, which is currently building new gas plants that will require more than 150 miles of pipelines carrying fracked methane, a planet-warming gas that leaks from pipelines and pollutes air and water near fracking sites. 

Caroline Eggers WPLN News

Natural gas pipelines leak methane, a climate pollutant that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide on a 20-year timescale.

TVA has not been slowed down in their buildout of fossil fuels in recent years, despite an executive order from President Biden, a letter from 10 prominent members of Congress, comments from the Environmental Protection Agency and opposition from communities and leaders like Mayor John Cooper. 

The Tennessee state legislature has even passed multiple bills that make it easier for fossil fuel companies to build pipelines and TVA to build power plants. It criminalized protests of fossil fuels in response to grassroots movements — like the kind that Pearson led in Memphis. 

On Saturday, Pearson accepted the Sierra Club’s honor, though he said it “is truly Memphis’ award,” and suggested that now is a critical time to accelerate efforts on climate change and protect people from pollution.

“This is the fight,” he said.