Black Lives Matter South Bend is collecting signatures in support of Reparatory Justice policies for South Bend’s LaSalle Park community. For decades, Black residents in neighborhoods like LaSalle Park have faced discrimination, environmental harm, pollution by dumping, and disinvestment.

Today, residents in LaSalle Park area have one of the lowest life expectancies in St. Joseph County—about 77 years—and many community members are still calling for more comprehensive environmental testing to understand the long-term impacts of pollution and contamination.

There is a report from the South Bend Common Council indicating that the Lake Park Neighborhood has been neglected and environmentally poisoned due to racism. We are collecting signatures to show that residents of south bend support investment in the neighborhood.

We’re asking the City of South Bend to conduct environmental testing and invest in affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. We are asking residents who believe in justice, accountability, and repair, to sign our petition today.

Can we have your support? Just your name, zip code, and email (so you want to be updated on the campaign).

WHAT IS REPARATIONS?

Reparations are actions to repair harms caused against to a group of people or community.