Cancer Alley 1

A woman stands in front of two dead trees

Sharon Lavigne, founder of RISE St. James, non-profit environmental justice organization, at her home in Welcome, St. James Parish, in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. “We’re dying from inhaling the industries’ pollution. I feel like it’s a death sentence. Like we are getting cremated, but not getting burnt,” she said. October 16, 2023. © 2023 Eli Reed for Human Rights Watch

A father and daughter outside their home

Tish and Robert Taylor - daughter and father - at Tish’s home in La Place, Saint John the Baptist Parish, in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. “We’re a sacrifice zone,” Tish said. October 17, 2023. © 2023 Eli Reed for Human Rights Watch

Flares and smoke released from fossil fuel and petrochemical plants

Residents of Louisiana’s Cancer Alley attend a Christmas Day parade while smoke and flares rise from fossil fuel and petrochemical plants behind them.

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Geraldine Watkins at her home in LaPlace, St. John the Baptist Parish, in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. A longtime organizer and activist, she blames the fossil fuel and petrochemical industry for death and disease in her community. October 20, 2023. © 2023 Eli Reed for Human Rights Watch

Ashley Gaignard with her grandson at her home in Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish, in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. She wants the local school billboard to record daily pollution emissions to help parents protect their children from the fossil fuel and petrochemical pollution in their community. October 19, 2023. © 2023 Eli Reed for Human Rights Watch

Children at play near the home of Robert Taylor in Reserve, Saint John the Baptist Parish, in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley and the census tract with the highest risk of cancer from industrial air pollution in the United States. October 17, 2023. © 2023 Eli Reed for Human Rights Watch

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