03 Aug 2017 Gore Criticized by Black Activists for Green Agenda Hurting Poor, Minorities

Hypocritical Actions, Hysterical Assertions Hurt Gore’s Credibility

Washington, D.C. – As Al Gore takes his An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power documentary into theaters nationwide, black activists with the Project 21 leadership network are criticizing the former vice president for being out of touch with the needs of the American people. In particular, Project 21 members say Gore’s green agenda is harmful to the well-being of poor and minority households and that his actions detract from his message.

On the documentary’s promotional website, people are urged to reduce their “carbon footprint” by using fewer of the plentiful and more economical fossil fuels, to embrace more expensive alternative energy sources and to be politically active in the pursuit of increased environmental regulation. As energy costs inevitably rise under such an agenda, those who are already at an economic disadvantage will find themselves facing unnecessary new budgetary burdens.

“Al Gore’s comments and actions hammer home the fact that climate change alarmists aren’t taking into account how much their pet project hurts African-Americans, other minorities and low-income families,” said Derrick Hollie, a member of Project 21 and the president of the Reaching America policy organization. “Energy is the lifeblood of our society. Any increase in its cost disproportionately affects lower income groups. Green activists tend to ignore how their agenda affects energy poverty, which keeps disadvantaged populations poor through high energy prices and decreased economic opportunities.”

Additionally, the National Center for Public Policy Research, the parent organization of Project 21, reported this week that Gore’s estate near Nashville, Tennessee used over 21 times more electricity in the past year than the average American household. This conspicuous consumption of energy from someone who asks others to make do with less – and potentially more expensive – energy raises allegations of hypocrisy.

“Isn’t it cute when someone who has made a living peddling lies about the weather lectures Americans about how they should live? Actually, it isn’t. It’s not cute, it doesn’t make sense and it’s downright insulting,” said Project 21 Co-Chairman Stacy Washington, a syndicated talk radio host and U.S. Air Force veteran. “Americans have every right to use all the energy they can afford – just like Al Gore does in a mansion you might be able to see from space at night because of its size and energy use. Gore simply doesn’t practice what he preaches. His electricity use rivals over 21 American households combined. We should ignore his climate decrees until he starts walking the walk.”

Another aspect of Gore’s environmental advocacy that angers Project 21 members is his comparison of environmentalism to civil rights. At the recent EcoCity World Summit in Melbourne, Australia, Gore compared global warming activism to “all the great moral causes” such as the abolition of slavery and passage of civil rights laws in the United States and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. On comedian Marc Maron’s 7/31 podcast, he likened the gradual acceptance of civil rights 50 years ago to people now interested in installing solar panels on their homes.

“This is truly rich coming from the son of a segregationist. When his father was filibustering against the civil rights for blacks in the Senate, where was Al Gore, Jr.’s concern?” asked Project 21 Co-Chairman Horace Cooper, a former assistant law professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, in response to Gore’s Melbourne speech. “Study after study demonstrate that the radical climate policies advocated by Al Gore, Jr. will hurt blacks and the poor most. Just as segregation and interracial marriage bans were purported to be for the good of all while clearly done to generate political support, today’s climate alarmism is pushed solely to get the support of a small group of so-called eco-warriors at the expense of blacks. Please spare us any more of this.”

To book an interview with a member of Project 21 about this or other nonpartisan issues affecting black America, contact Judy Kent at (703) 759-7476.

Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives for 25 years, is sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research. Its members have been quoted, interviewed or published over 40,000 times since the program was created in 1992. Contributions to the National Center are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated, and may be earmarked exclusively for the use of Project 21.

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