This week, Defenders of Wildlife joined 51 other conservation and outdoor recreation organizations in sending a letter to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash condemning the recent racist act that took place at the entrance of the park’s Foothills Parkway.
On the weekend of September 19, the skin of a recently-killed black bear—including its head—was found next to a cardboard sign at the park entrance that read, “From here to the Lake, Black lives don’t matter.” The National Park Service is offering $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:
“The recent actions of intimidation and racism at Great Smoky Mountain National Park are sickening. These incredible landscapes belong to everyone, though we have a long way to go to ensure that park visitors feel welcome and safe. Defenders of Wildlife unequivocally supports Superintendent Cassius Cash, a conservation leader who works tirelessly to bring people together in the park to talk about racism, to heal and to see the mountain as the sanctuary it should be. Racism has no place anywhere.”
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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