Terrance Bankston is deeply interwoven in environmental justice work throughout New Jersey including but not limited to being a member of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the Senior Ports and Freight Campaigner at Friend Of the Earth’s (FOE) Oceans and Vessels Program. An example of his commitment to serving environmental justice communities is his experience leading a campaign against Amazon and NY/NJ Port Authority to prevent the creation of an Amazon air cargo facility in Newark which would negatively impact nearby communities and infringe on worker’s rights. The facility would devastate infrastructure, contribute to air and water pollution, and host an unsafe work environment. In response, the campaign gained widespread support from labor unions and environmental advocates.

The fight against the facility was an unrelenting effort. There were constant rallies at the location so people could visualize the impact. They protested at Jeff Bezos’ office, Whole Foods, and the Port Authority offices. One of their biggest struggles was lack of access to the NY/NJ Port Authority offices to have their case heard. Eventually they were granted some access and able to connect with board member Rob Menendez Jr who was from an overburdened community and willing to engage with community members. The campaign was strong, consistent, and organized which highlighted the power of the people against injustice.

The defining factor that pushed the campaign along was the coalition of groups and voices who were willing to speak out and refuse to give up the fight. Amazon and NY/NJ Port Authority recognized they weren’t going to compromise and back down, which ultimately left them with no choice but to listen. Conquering environmental justice challenges like this are most effectively tackled when they are addressed at each of the levels they operate on; race, public health, infrastructure, labor rights, environmental impact and beyond. Acknowledging the issue is multifaceted and requires the voices of many different perspectives and backgrounds to be the changemaker.

Ultimately, the movement was able to get Amazon and NY/NJ Port Authority to rescind the contract altogether. This was a major landmark victory that perfectly demonstrates the way grassroots organizing can elicit impactful change. Those involved are staying vigilant to make sure the contract doesn’t pop back up into consideration or hurried forward behind closed doors. Terrance advises people looking to make changes in their community to partner with organizations already doing the work and engage on a local level. He encourages education on the issues to become a stronger and more powerful advocate. Many people are becoming actioners of change through his work with Friends of The Earth and Parents Engaging Parents of New Jersey .

Looking ahead, Terrance is moving forward with other projects to address the challenges faced by port communities throughout the state. The Report Card Project is an exciting new project that  is currently underway. The project assesses ports over several categories including emissions, transparency, and community engagement. The first round of report cards will be released this year, stay tuned for updates from Friends Of The Earth. The next round will be released in 2027 to track progress over the years.