Louisiana Bucket Brigade

06/03/2026

Inclusive Louisiana’s co-founder Barbara Washington and her family own 34 acres of land bought by her great great great grandmother Harriet Jones in 1874. She is just one member of a historic Black community of Romeville that deep ties to their land and their formerly enslaved ancestors.

Today, June 3rd, the St. James Parish council is planning a radical change in the land use designation for Romeville, including the Harriet Jones property, from agricultural to industrial.
 
The plan by parish officials is clear: make these places unlivable and destroy the property values of Black families who have lived on their land for generations. Make their lives so miserable they will leave. Force them out. Erase them. Then build more industry.

Stand with us against this erasure at the Parish Courthouse June 3rd at 6 PM at 5800 HWY 44, Covent, LA!

06/02/2026

In April we partnered with The Cheek Law Firm to throw the New Orleans Earth Day Festival.

Thank you to over a thousand of you who came out to dance, eat and celebrate each of our roles in the fight for a better future for Louisiana.

We were joined by great group of non-profit organizations, artists, venders as well as performers.

Moments of joy and community is what sustains and grounds all of our work!

05/18/2026

Last week, we were back in court over one of the many public records requests and lawsuits filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of Rural Roots Louisiana, Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, and Louisiana Bucket Brigade concerning the proposed RiverPlex MegaPark and Hyundai Steel plant in Ascension Parish.

This hearing focused on obtaining records from the Industrial Development Board related to the $1.2 billion in parish tax exemptions promised to Hyundai Steel on top of a $600 million direct incentive package. The public has a right to know how taxpayer dollars are being used and how these deals will impact their community for generations to come.

Ascension Parish continues its pattern of government secrecy and deference to heavy industry and outside corporate interests. But we will continue fighting for transparency, accountability, and decision-making that puts local communities first.

05/13/2026

Rural Roots Louisiana, Louisiana Bucket Brigade and Center for Constitutional Rights brought a public records case against Ascension Parish government in December.

For months, Ascension Parish has attempted to block the release of public records related to Non-Disclosure Agreements signed over the proposed Hyundai Steel plant in Ascension Parish, as well as Industrial Development Board records tied to agreements with Hyundai.

A judge is now reviewing those documents to decide if they are exempt from Public Records Law or not.

These are records that the public needs so that local people can have agency and make informed decisions about their community.

The legal battle comes with Gov. Jeff Landry's administration making extensive use of non-disclosure agreements, including with elected officials.

05/12/2026

Yesterday, we were back in court alongside Rural Roots Louisiana and the Center for Constitutional Rights for a hearing in our public records case that we filed 9 months ago.

For months, Ascension Parish has attempted to block the release of public records related to Non-Disclosure Agreements signed over the proposed Hyundai Steel plant in Ascension Parish, as well as Industrial Development Board records tied to agreements with Hyundai.

This lack of transparency around new industrial projects in Louisiana is designed to push developments forward behind closed doors, keeping local communities from having the information they need to make informed decisions about their land, homes, and future.

We will not let that happen. We deserves to know what is being planned in their communities.

05/11/2026

We are Live outside Louisiana 23rd Judicial District Court after a hearing for public records requests regarding Non-Disclosure Agreements signed regarding the proposed Hyundai Steel plant in Ascension Parish and records of the Industrial Development Board relating to any agreements with Hyundai, which has plans for a steel plant in the historic community of Modeste.

05/06/2026

The Down By The River Bike Ride is the cover story for Gambit Weekly! Check out the article and reserve a ride for your group on our website!

https://www.nola.com/gambit/news/the_latest/rallying-against-fossil-fuels-on-louisiana-bucket-brigades-bike-trip-through-cancer-alley/article_212c4d7b-5e47-49f1-9166-de3926110077.html

05/06/2026

Thank you so much to all who choose to support the future of leaders in Louisiana for GiveNOLA Day! Together we raised $26,121 from 175 donors – we are floored!

In these unprecedented times, the NextGen Summer Academy empowers young people living in “Cancer Alley” to recognize a wolf in sheep’s clothing and build a different future. ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, and Shell have billboards all over Louisiana with claims of helping our state, with a particular focus on education. We will not hand over young minds and hearts to these rapacious companies. Thank you for making the NextGen Summer Academy expansion possible... And thank you for standing with us!

05/05/2026

Today is GiveNOLA Day! Every year, New Orleans comes together to show that we care about investing in our communities, in arts, in human rights and a just sustainable future.

Be a part of builidng a better future by supporting Louisiana Bucket Brigade and our NextGen Youth Program.

NextGen is growing and we are collaborating with Inclusive Louisiana, our community partners in St. James Parish.

We need your support to make things like snacks and lunches, transportation, and data collecting tools possible. Donate for GiveNOLA Day today!

https://www.givenola.org/give/LABB

05/02/2026

Next Saturday May 9th is our next monthly Down By The River Bike Ride! Grab one of our spots still available!

Down by the River is not just a bike ride, it's an exploration that connects America's largest slave revolt to today's work for environmental justice, weaving Black history, present-day organizing, and storytelling into an unforgettable experience. We take reservations for groups of 5 or more, or join our monthly ride open to individuals.

https://labucketbrigade.org/our-work/down-by-the-river/