These are precarious times for individuals and groups whose work on environmental issues challenges powerful industries.
Dr. Kyla Bennett, PEER’s Director of Science Policy, is experiencing this firsthand. Back in January, Polyloom Corporation – a manufacturer of artificial turf – sued Grassroots Environmental Education and others, including Dr. Bennett in her personal capacity, in federal court in Tennessee. Their misdeed – planning to conduct a webinar to discuss the adverse health risks of using artificial turf.
Now, Dr. Bennett and the other participants scheduled to speak during the cancelled webinar are fighting back. They have filed a lawsuit under the Civil Rights Law of New York, charging Polyloom with having engaged in an illegal suit “for the purpose of harassing, intimidating, punishing or maliciously inhibiting the free exercise of speech, petition or association rights.”
There is a lot to unpack here. I hope you will take a moment to read our press release and The New York Times article on this matter. These lawsuits have important implications for science and free speech in the United States.
We are grateful to all of those who are speaking out on the dangers of artificial turf despite the industry’s efforts to silence them.
Sincerely,
Tim Whitehouse
Executive Director
P.S. Protecting the public’s right to unbiased, science-based information – especially when that information impacts their health and the environment – is at the heart of PEER’s work. As powerful interests ramp up their attacks to silence experts, your support allows PEER to fight back. We’ve just launched a matching gift campaign that will double the impact of your gift this summer. Make a matching gift »
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