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"While Valero was sending its workers for medical screenings after theblast, residents of the Manchester community were absorbing fumes, coughingprofusely, and turning ill," said K.B. Forbes, Executive Director of theConsejo. "Regardless of their public relations mouthpieces, Valero is not acommunity player. In an emergency situation, Valero has shown extremeinsensitivity and irresponsible behavior. Working with T.E.J.A.S., we willprovide the needed medical help to the community."
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Juan Parras, a well known and respected environmental activist in Houstonwho serves as the voluntary Executive Director of T.E.J.A.S. said, "Enough isenough! We all know that Valero and other petrochemical companies are dumpingtoxins in the air. Valero appears to have simply ignored the medical needs ofthe working class, low-income families in the Manchester area who live nextdoor to Valero's refinery and production plant. Inaction by Valero speakslouder than Valero's sugar-coated words."
Elizabeth Salgado, a resident of Manchester, drove out of the area shortlyafter the blast on Monday morning. "My mother was coughing. She couldn't stopcoughing. All I could do was leave the area. Luckily we have insurance butmost of the residents in Manchester are uninsured and cannot afford a simpledoctor's visit."
Residents and victims of the Valero blast who feel ill are encouraged tocall Consejo's national hotline at 1-800-474-7576 or to call T.E.J.A.S.locally at (713) 926-8895.
Consejo has taken on some of largest corporations for abuses againstLatinos and helped spur three congressional hearings. The Consejo was profiledon CBS' 60 Minutes in 2006 for its work against hospital abuses. Theorganization was founded in 2001 and has provided over $1.7 million in freemedical aid since 2003.
SOURCE Consejo de Latinos Unidos
