GNOICC members were informed and inspired by a presentation by Barbara Washington about the organization Inclusive Louisiana at the GNOICC General Assembly meeting on July 30. Inclusive Louisiana was established in 2020 (as was GNOICC) with the goal of “protecting the residents of St. James Parish and neighboring parishes from environmental harm caused by industrial pollution”, per its website. Ms. Washington and Gail LeBoeuf are Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors of this non-profit organization.
Ms. Washington explained the background and events leading up to a lawsuit, filed in July against Formosa Plastics Corporation, in which Inclusive Louisiana and The Descendants Project are the plaintiffs. Ms. Washington described the background and events leading up to a lawsuit filed in July 2025 against Formosa Plastics Corporation. An unmarked cemetery on the Formosa Plastics property contains the remains of five persons who were enslaved. According to this lawsuit, the Thirteenth Amendment and Louisiana cemetery law are violated, in that the humans buried there are owned by another human/humans. According to the suit, the existence of this cemetery violates the Thirteenth Amendment and Louisiana cemetery law, as the individuals buried there were once considered property.
The lawsuit was preceded by research which led to information on these enslaved persons including names and ages, which ranged from 8 to 31. Community members planned a memorial service at the site. This event took place in the presence of rain but lack of shelter. However, the addition of headstones was denied by the corporation.
Inclusive Louisiana owns property which they are developing as a community hub. The group has a monthly community event which provides opportunities for education and decision-making. The July event was the showing of a 2019 award-winning documentary film, “Mossville: When Giant Trees Fall”, about the environmental degradation of the town of Mossville in Calcasieu Parish through actions of a chemical company in that town.
When asked what GNOICC could do to help Inclusive Louisiana, Ms. Washington suggested that GNOICC host one of these community meetings. We can further help by showing up to listen and support them at meetings of the St. James Parish Council and other environmental decision makers, as Inclusive Louisiana representatives testify against further toxic pollution development. GNOICC will definitely discuss these possibilities.
Photograph used by permission of Inclusive Louisiana.
