In East Palestine, Ohio, third-party presidential candidates have made pit stops in their campaign schedules to pitch their stances on policy in the aftermath of a disastrous train derailment that released toxic chemicals into the environment in February 2023.
The incident has been a focal point for discussions on corporate accountability, governmental oversight, and the long-term health implications for affected communities, with the Biden administration criticized by many of the president’s 2024 challengers.
3rd-Party Candidates Make Their Bids to Voters in East Palestine
Amidst the ongoing concerns over environmental degradation and public health in East Palestine, third-party presidential candidates have seized the opportunity to engage directly with the affected community, offering their perspectives and solutions.Green Party candidate Jill Stein, a physician by profession, criticized the handling of the derailment’s aftermath during a town hall meeting in nearby Darlington, Pennsylvania, over the weekend.
Ms. Stein highlighted the disparity between Norfolk Southern Railway’s profits and the community’s suffering, stating that the railroad company and the government had failed the residents of East Palestine.
Similarly, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made his grievances known in a visit early last week and in a segment on Fox News with town residents on Feb. 29, labeling the affected site a “crime scene” and advocating for criminal charges against Norfolk Southern.
Mr. Kennedy’s stance, articulated during the Fox News segment, pointed to a broader issue of failure at both the corporate and governmental levels.
His engagement in the community, alongside Ms. Stein’s, underscores a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo and a demand for more robust environmental and public health protections for the town’s residents.
Biden Criticism From Candidates
Both Ms. Stein and Mr. Kennedy haven’t shied away from critiquing the federal government’s response to the crisis.Ms. Stein, in particular, expressed disappointment in how President Joe Biden and environmental authorities addressed the disaster, suggesting that immediate and more comprehensive action was necessary to safeguard the community.
“On day one, the president can fix this. He can instruct the EPA to properly protect this community, and that means to move everybody out right now who is at risk and to make testing widely available for every household, for every person, so they can be informed and empowered,” she said over the weekend, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Mr. Kennedy’s criticism echoed this sentiment, framing the derailment and its fallout as indicative of a systemic failure to protect American citizens from corporate negligence.
“This [disaster] occurred because of a failure of government,” he said in the Fox News segment. “Norfolk Southern was paying its executives 80 percent of their salary for reducing costs. That’s where their bonuses come from. The company should be criminally charged for what it did to this community. It was an act of theft. It stole the property values. It stole the health. It stole the pursuit of happiness from this wonderful community.”
Marianne Williamson, also running in the Democratic primary against President Biden, visited the town in May 2023.
“The larger story is, whether it is East Palestine or any other situation, there is a sense that ‘the fix is in.’ There is an unholy alliance between government and corporate power,” Ms. Williamson said at the time, according to the Parkersburg News and Sentinel. “Our job is to override that. We don’t need any more analysis of the situation. People in East Palestine sure as heck don’t. Now, the conservation is ‘what are we going to do about it?'”
Biden’s Visit 1 Year Later
President Biden’s visit to East Palestine in February, more than a year after the incident, elicited mixed reactions from the community and political observers alike.
President Joe Biden (C) speaks after receiving an operational briefing from officials on the continuing response and recovery efforts at the site of a train derailment that spilled hazardous chemicals a year ago in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 16, 2024. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
While the president announced health grants to support research into the long-term impacts of the derailment, his visit was met with skepticism.
His motorcade was even met by protests by some residents and supporters of former President Donald Trump, highlighting a deep-seated distrust in the federal government’s motives and effectiveness.
Former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine in the days after last year’s disaster and was one of many conservative voices criticizing President Biden for failing to do the same in the aftermath of the derailment.
The timing of President Biden’s visit, amidst preparations for the upcoming election, has further fueled debates over the sincerity and adequacy of the federal response.
Critics argue that the visit, while a gesture toward acknowledgment, falls short of addressing the ongoing needs of the East Palestine community.
Moving Forward
Questions remain regarding the comprehensive testing of air, water, and soil, as well as the provision of health care and support for those affected by the chemical exposure.The involvement of presidential candidates from across the political spectrum underscores the significance of environmental justice and public health as pivotal issues in the upcoming election.
The involvement of third-party candidates hasn’t only brought additional attention to the plight of East Palestine but has also presented voters with alternative perspectives on addressing such complex issues.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the disaster in East Palestine remains a poignant reminder of the stakes involved in elections and public policy.
