NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A southeast Louisiana official has been accused of committing perjury for failing to reveal info associated to a controversial grain terminal within the state’s Mississippi River Chemical Corridor in response to a lawsuit introduced by a outstanding native local weather activist.
St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard denied in a deposition that she knew her mother-in-law might have benefited financially from parish rezoning plans to make manner for a 222-acre (90-hectare) grain export facility alongside the Mississippi River.
Hotard additionally mentioned in court docket filings, below oath, that no correspondence existed between her and her mother-in-law in regards to the grain terminal, regardless that her mother-in-law later turned over quite a few textual content messages the place they mentioned the grain terminal and a close-by property owned by the mother-in-law’s marine transport firm, court docket information present.
The textual content messages have been disclosed as a part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Pleasure Banner, who alongside along with her sister, Jo Banner, efficiently led efforts to halt the $800 million grain terminal earlier this yr. It will have been constructed inside 300 ft (91 meters) of their property and near historic websites within the predominantly Black community the place they grew up.
The authorized dispute is a part of a broader conflict playing out in courts and public hearings, pitting officers desirous to greenlight financial growth towards grassroots community groups difficult polluting industrial enlargement within the closely industrialized 85-mile industrial hall between Baton Rouge and New Orleans typically referred to by environmental activists as “Most cancers Alley.”
“We’re residents which can be simply attempting to guard our houses and simply attempting to dwell our lives as we now have a proper to do,” Banner mentioned in an interview with The Related Press.
The Banner sisters gained nationwide consideration after cofounding the Descendants Undertaking, a company devoted to historic preservation and racial justice.
Within the textual content messages turned over as a part of Pleasure Banner’s lawsuit, Hotard, the parish president, says that she wished to “choke” Pleasure Banner and used profanities to explain her. Hotard additionally mentioned of the Banner sisters: “I hate these individuals.”
Hotard and her legal professional, Ike Spears, didn’t reply to requests for remark after Tuesday’s submitting. Richard John Tomeny, the lawyer representing Hotard’s mother-in-law, Darla Gaudet, declined to remark.
Banner initially sued the parish in federal court docket in December 2023 after Hotard and one other parish councilman, Michael Wright, threatened her with arrest and barred her from talking throughout a public remark interval at a November 2023 council assembly.
“In sum: a white man threatened a Black lady with prosecution and imprisonment for talking in the course of the public remark interval of a public assembly,” Banner’s lawsuit says. It accuses the parish of violating Banner’s First Modification rights.
Wright and his lawyer didn’t reply to requests for remark. Hotard and Wright have disputed Banner’s model of occasions in court docket filings.
Banner’s lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial early subsequent yr.
___
Brook is a corps member for The Related Press/Report for America Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points. Observe Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96
Earlier than you think about Banner, you will wish to hear this.
Whereas Banner at the moment has a “Average Purchase” score amongst analysts, top-rated analysts consider these 5 shares are higher buys.
Trying to keep away from the effort of mudslinging, volatility, and uncertainty? You’d have to be out of the market, which isn’t viable. So the place ought to buyers put their cash? Discover out with this report.
