Environmental-justice demands originated partly as critique of mainstream environmental groups

Evidence

Grassroots environmentalists were distrustful both of government officials and of the businesses that they believed were locating a disproportionate number of polluting facilities in minority communities. Local environmental activists made accusations of “environmental racism” and made claims for “environmental justice,” with the latter ultimately becoming their rallying cry. However, these groups were similarly suspicious of the national environmental organizations. — Richard J. Lazarus, The Making of Environmental Law, 550

Categorization

• XREF: Core eco-justice genealogy — the environmental-justice movement’s origins in critiques of both industry and mainstream greens. — connects to: Environmental justice pressure transformed Greenpeace until funding cuts reversed it; Mainstream environmental groups legitimize pollution by litigating marginal measures; Mainstream environmental groups oppose tribal land return to retain management say — Winona LaDuke, All Our Relations: Native Struggles for…, 688 (+3 more)
• SEED: The 1980s as decade of organizing-before-change for both opposing movements is an essay-ready contrast structure.