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The Sierra Club’s board of directors voted last Friday to officially admonish two members who have publicly defended the legacy of the group’s famed founder, John Muir, against allegations of racism.
One of those board members is Aaron Mair, who previously served as the group’s first African American president. The other, Chad Hanson, is a prominent forest ecologist and activist. Both have pushed back against news stories over the past year and a half arguing that Muir was racist and sought to exclude Black and Indigenous people from protected landscapes, a claim they say the historical record does not support. With last week’s vote, the board deemed both men’s “conduct to be lacking,” and sought to hold them “accountable,” according to internal records obtained by HuffPost.
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The Sierra Club, one of the nation’s oldest and largest environmental groups, is weathering a series of intense internal controversies over race and identity, workplace culture, organizational structure, and the legacy of Muir, who founded the Club in 1892. It is part of a broader upheaval within the American environmental movement, one that has seen high-profile resignations at organizations like the Audubon Society and public feuding at groups like the Sunrise Movement.
The Sierra Club’s internal Muir conflict kicked off in earnest in the summer of 2020, as protests and riots over the police murder of George Floyd spread across the nation. That July, Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune published a statement titled “Pulling Down Our Monuments” in which he accused his organization of “perpetuating white supremacy” and, in some cases throughout the Club’s long history, causing “immeasurable harm.”
Among other things, Brune denounced Muir for “making derogatory comments about Black people and Indigenous peoples that drew on deeply harmful racist stereotypes” and for his friendship with men like Henry Fairfield Osborn, who would eventually become a leading eugenicist. The statement sent shock waves through the conservation movement, and it was widely picked up in the mainstream press.
But it did not sit well with Mair, Hanson, or another longtime Sierra Club supporter, Mary Ann Nelson, who was the first African American elected to the Club’s volunteer national board. Together, the trio penned a detailed response to Brune’s statement. They sought to challenge Brune’s article as well as other media portrayals of Muir, including a March 2021 essay in Sierra magazine by the author Rebecca Solnit that aligned with Brune’s perspective.
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According to minutes from the March 10 Sierra Club board meeting, Hanson, Mair and Nelson tried to place their response in the magazine earlier this year, but a majority of the board blocked them from publishing their rebuttal before it made it through the magazine’s editorial process.
Those minutes, which Politico first reported on, note that the board passed a resolution stating that it “reviewed the article submitted to Sierra Magazine by Directors Hanson and Mair and former Director Nelson and finds it to be inconsistent with the messaging guidance adopted by resolution on February 27 and thus should not be published in Sierra Magazine or posted on its website.”
The minutes note that the board did, however, grant Hanson and Mair permission to share their opinion in other venues, provided they “use independent channels and clearly state that their views are not those of the Board of Directors nor the Sierra Club.”
Ultimately, Hanson, Mair and Nelson took their article elsewhere, publishing a lengthy exploration of Muir’s record in Earth Island Journal on Aug. 11.
“It’s important to think critically about our movement’s historical figures, John Muir included,” the trio wrote. “However, some recent articles by environmentalists and environmental writers — though perhaps guided by good intentions, and well-written and researched in other respects — contain some inaccurate and unfounded information that could create damaging divisions among the conservation movement and environmental justice advocates. We aim to set the record straight.”
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While acknowledging that Muir used derogatory racial language in some of his early writings, the three authors noted that “Muir did not promote removal of Native peoples from ancestral lands, nor did he promote exclusion of Black Americans from protected lands.” Insinuations that Muir aligned with white supremacist and eugenicist views, they wrote, are also factually wrong.
On the contrary, they argued, Muir criticized the U.S. government’s “mean, brutal policy” towards Native Americans, his views evolved as he became a leading conservationist, and his overall vision “spoke to the harmony and connection of people and creation, not racial hierarchy or human dominance.”
In their article, Mair, Hanson and Nelson explicitly stated that they were representing “their own views and are not speaking on behalf of the Sierra Club.” (Brune announced his resignation from the Club days after the trio published their piece, in an apparent coincidence.)
Mair, Hanson and Nelson also spoke with Politico, which published a story on Aug. 16 about the controversy. Mair told Politico that Brune’s depiction of the writings and life of John Muir was “ahistorical” and “revisionist.” Hanson said that while he believed it was important to acknowledge the group’s history concerning racism, “false allegations” were damaging to the organization and the environmental movement more broadly.
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The article and public statements angered some in the organization, including members of the Progressive Workers Union, which represents some Sierra Club staff. A letter sent in late August that HuffPost has reviewed included a range of concerns about the Club’s internal culture. The union complained that Hanson and Mair had “centered Sierra Club’s problems around John Muir in a public way in recent weeks, misconstruing the truth of the issues within our community and harming staff in the process.”
As part of its official action last week ― which appears to be a sort of internal scolding for the record that is less severe than a formal censure ― the board put forward a pair of “accountability resolutions” that chastised Hanson and Mair for conduct that has “caused significant and ongoing harm to our organization” and “sparked widespread concerns” from staff, volunteers and more, according to multiple sources and internal Sierra Club records that HuffPost obtained.
The resolutions reprimanded Mair and Hanson for speaking to Politico “without authorization and without notifying designated spokespeople or communications staff,” and for publishing an article deemed “inconsistent with the positions and messaging guidelines on Sierra Club history that the Board of Directors had previously adopted.” It also chastised them for including their official Sierra Club leadership titles in the published piece.
In an email to Club leaders prior to the vote, Hanson and Mair defended their conduct, arguing that the charges against them were baseless and that they had acted in accordance with their board responsibilities.
“Well-founded criticisms of key historical figures are often warranted and valuable, but inaccurate and misleading attacks, such as those leveled against John Muir in some recent Sierra Club posts/articles, can widen divisions and cause unnecessary harm, including financial harm to the Sierra Club,” they wrote. “We have expressed this concern all along, consistent with our fiduciary duties as Directors. Notably, we have now seen tangible evidence of severe financial harm caused to the Sierra Club by the current Board majority’s factually-challenged attacks on Muir, in the form of the loss of a $100 million donation.”
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In the end, a majority of the board voted to pass the accountability resolutions and officially admonish the two men, according to multiple sources present for the meeting, which was open to Club members.
Hanson and Mair both declined to comment for this story, with Mair saying he “would be sanctioned” if he did so. Nelson, who was not subject to the official accountability resolution because she is not currently serving on the board, said that the actions against Mair and Hanson were unusual in her experience.
“I have been on some Sierra Club boards with significant differences of opinion,” she said, “but we never felt the need to do this.”
Neither the Sierra Club nor the Progressive Workers Union responded to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, other prominent Sierra Club members have expressed exasperation at the board’s behavior.
“It is unfortunate that this energy was expended to essentially accomplish nothing,” said Dr. Michael Dorsey, a longtime Sierra Club member who served on its national board for 11 years. “It is in the realm of petty and vindictive and it is unfortunate that people would align with that kind of thing.”
He noted that the board vote was held on the last day of the United Nations COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland ― a pivotal environmental event.
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“It was a bona fide waste of time,” Dorsey said.
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FAQs
What is the main focus of Sierra Club? ›
Sierra Club Mission Statement
To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
National Sierra Club
The Sierra Club was founded by John Muir, in California in 1892.
The club enjoyed a series of conservation successes in the Grand Canyon, Great Lakes, Florida Everglades, and Alaskan forests and was encouraged by federal legislation that created the Wilderness Act (1964), the Environmental Protection Agency (1970), and the Clean Air Act (1977).
What were the issues with John Muir? ›He made derogatory comments about Black people and Indigenous peoples that drew on deeply harmful racist stereotypes, though his views evolved later in his life. As the most iconic figure in Sierra Club history, Muir's words and actions carry an especially heavy weight.
What issues are Sierra Club about? ›Sierra Club California is based in Sacramento. It has a staff of advocates and organizers who defend and advance environmental policies that fight climate disrupting pollution, protect air and water quality, advance clean energy, support parks, and preserve natural resources, wildlife and wildlife habitat.
What is the Sierra Club against? ›The Sierra Club opposes all sport hunting in national parks, which are set aside for the preservation of natural landscapes and wildlife. Monthly giving provides the resources to sustain long-term campaigns that permanently protect our most precious resources.
Who is the best known founder of the Sierra Club? ›1890s The Sierra Club is founded on May 28, 1892, with John Muir as its first president (read more about John Muir's complex legacy here).
How does Sierra Club influence government? ›Federal Government: The national Sierra Club leads on lobbying the president, Congress and federal agencies to promote sound environmental policies. The Chapter participates when federal activities affect our state's air, land and water.
Who created the Sierra Club and what was his inspiration? ›The Sierra Club acknowledges the harm such discrimination created. John Muir, one of the Sierra Club's founders, sparked the movement to preserve millions of acres of land from logging and mining, and inspired generations of people to protect nature.
What is the purpose of the Sierra Club quizlet? ›The Sierra Club Foundation promotes efforts to educate and empower people to protect and improve the natural and human environment.
How does the Sierra Club achieve its goals? ›
To achieve its mission, the Sierra Club has organized persons of shared environmental concerns into a powerful and effective force for protecting the natural environment.
How effective is Sierra Club? ›This charity's score is 96%, earning it a Four-Star rating.
What did John Muir do in the Sierra Club? ›The Sierra Club's own History and Future Task Force concluded in 2021, "John Muir, one of the Sierra Club's founders, sparked the movement to preserve millions of acres of land from logging and mining, and inspired generations of people to protect nature.
What was John Muir's message? ›After first visiting the area in 1868, Muir committed himself to protecting Yosemite's natural beauty, rooted in a belief that the government should designate and maintain wilderness areas for the enjoyment of all citizens regardless of economic or social standing.
What did John Muir fight stop? ›At the end of his life, Muir and the Sierra Club fought a bitter and ultimately unsuccessful crusade against construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park.
What was the issue in the Sierra Club case quizlet? ›-The Sierra Club filed up a lawsuit against the EPA. They argued that they were lovers of the environment and that they want to protect the environment that would be harmed by the action of the Disney company and the authorisation of Morton.
What are the values of the Sierra Club? ›- We Are Inclusive. We believe that to be successful, the environmental movement must lift up the voices of those most impacted by environmental degradation. ...
- We Have Mutual Respect. ...
- We Build Relationships. ...
- We Have Integrity.
Today, financial support for the Sierra Club Foundation comes from individual and institutional donors.
Is the Sierra Club radical? ›The Sierra Club is one of the nation's oldest and most powerful environmental activist organizations, with a war chest of over $79 million. Examples of the Sierra Club's radical positions include: Crusading to eliminate the sources of 95 percent of our current energy usage.
How do I stop Sierra Club donations? ›Please contact us by email at member.care@sierraclub.org, or by phone at 415-977-5653. Our office hours are 9 AM - 5 PM PT Monday - Friday.
What percentage of Sierra Club donations go to charity? ›
Program Percentage: 86%
The percentage of Sierra Club Foundation's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).
One of the easiest ways to become an environmental activist is to join the Sierra Club ... or make a donation. You can get a Sierra Club membership online - or - buy gift memberships online right now!
What laws did the Sierra Club pass? ›The new legislation includes oil well setbacks, carbon neutrality by 2045, a clean energy ramp-up, carbon sequestration through tree planting, and carbon capture through regulation—all of which, together, is cementing California's position as a leader on climate action.
What are the benefits of being a Sierra Club member? ›Membership benefits include: helping to protect wilderness and natural areas; a one-year (lifetime for Life memberships) subscription to our bi-monthly, national Sierra magazine; membership at the National, Chapter (Illinois), and Group levels; voting privileges in Sierra Club elections; trip fee reductions on many ...
What type of lobbying does the Sierra Club do? ›Sierra Club's Citizen Lobbyists play an important role in communicating the message of conservation and environmental protection to Michigan's legislators. Personal contact with your legislator could make the difference between a vote against the environment and a vote for the environment!
What are the tactics of Sierra Club? ›For decades, the Sierra Club has represented the essence of moderate, establishment environmentalism. Traditionally, its tactics stopped at strictly legal methods of winning support for its causes, such as writing letters to elected representatives, petitioning, and holding permitted rallies.
Who founded the Sierra Club quizlet? ›The Sierra Club was founded by a Scottish-American by the name of John Muir on 1892.
What is the purpose of the Sierra Club to fight for the preservation of wetlands and wilderness areas? ›The Sierra Club advocates a consistent public policy to preserve and restore the hydrologic, biologic, and aesthetic values of wetlands as public assets. We place highest priority on the protection of existing natural wetlands.
What current campaigns are the Sierra Club running? ›- Clean Energy.
- Clean Water.
- Smart Growth.
- Zero Waste.
- Clean Air Task Force.
- Union of Concerned Scientists.
- Carbon180.
- Greenpeace.
- Earth Justice.
- Rainforest Alliance.
- Practical Action.
- Earth Island.
Who was John Muir short summary? ›
John Muir was one of the country's most famous naturalist and conservationist and Muir Woods, part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is named in his honor. Muir is credited with both the creation of the National Park System and the establishment of the Sierra Club.
What did John Muir believe in? ›We take our name from John Muir (1838-1914), the Scots-born founder of the modern conservation movement. Muir was passionate about wild places. He explored them, wrote about them and campaigned to protect them. Muir believed in protecting wild places – for their own sake, and for the wellbeing of people and wildlife.
What was the first thing John Muir wanted to protect? ›Around 1907, Muir began to battle to save Hetch Hetchy, a beautiful valley in Yosemite National Park that San Francisco had set its sights on. The city wanted to petition congress to remove the valley's protection so that it could be turned into a water reservoir.
What was Muir's legacy? ›Muir is renowned for being the leader of the Western preservationist movement that led to Yosemite in California becoming a national park, along with a monument in Arizona that became the Petrified Forest National Park.
What is John Muir's famous quote from? ›“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine into trees.”
How did John Muir change society? ›Muir is credited with both the creation of the National Park System and the establishment of the Sierra Club. He educated Americans about the value of the country's wilderness, inspiring generations of wilderness advocates.
What did Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir disagree about? ›The two men did not agree on all things. Roosevelt was a big game hunter, while Muir felt that wildlife, like wild places, must be protected.
What argument does Muir give for protecting the redwoods? ›What argument does Muir give for protecting the redwoods? They take a very long time to grow and they are god's trees and he protects them from natural disasters. Also once these trees are gone, they are gone forever.
How did Muir improve America? ›His activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park, and his example has served as an inspiration for the preservation of many other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he co-founded, is a prominent American conservation organization.
Who is the target audience for Sierra Club? ›Sierramagazine.org reaches an audience who are passionate about the outdoors, adventure travel, living an eco-lifestyle, and protecting the environment. Our members and supporters are engaged with our brand on all social media channels, including photo and social bookmarking sites. FACEBOOK FANS!
Is Sierra Club a good charity to donate to? ›
This charity's score is 96%, earning it a Four-Star rating.
How much of my donation goes to Sierra Club? ›Program Percentage: 86%
The percentage of Sierra Club Foundation's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).
With millions of members and more than 64 chapters and 400 local groups nationwide, the Sierra Club has the resources to empower people and influence public policy through community activism, research, public education, advocacy, organizing, and litigation.
How powerful is the Sierra Club? ›The Sierra Club is one of the nation's oldest and most powerful environmental activist organizations, with a war chest of over $79 million. Examples of the Sierra Club's radical positions include: Crusading to eliminate the sources of 95 percent of our current energy usage.
What are the 3 main types of lobbying? ›Lobbying Forms. Lobbying takes a wide variety of forms, depending on what kinds of issues organized interests work for and whom they try to influence. Berry (1977) grouped various forms of lobbying into three general categories: direct lobbying, grassroots lobbying, and electoral lobbying.
What was the Sierra Club quizlet? ›The Sierra Club Foundation promotes efforts to educate and empower people to protect and improve the natural and human environment.