Monique Fitzgerald Wins ERASE Racism’s V. Elaine Gross Trailblazer Award

ERASE Racism announced today that it will honor Monique Fitzgerald, a leading advocate for environmental justice on Long Island, with its V. Elaine Gross Trailblazer Award. The Award was established by the Board of Directors of ERASE Racism to recognize an emerging or unsung leader in social and racial justice on Long Island. The award is named in honor of ERASE Racism’s Founding President, Elaine Gross, in recognition of her exceptional leadership and contributions to advancing racial equity. It will be presented at ERASE Racism’s Annual Benefit on Wednesday, June 3.

Monique Fitzgerald is Co-Founder, Board Member, and leading spokesperson for the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group (BLARG), a community formed in support of, and as part of, a direct-action plan to protect Black lives of the people in North Bellport, NY, after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. BLARG recognizes the environmental racism and injustices forced on the diverse North Bellport community by the Brookhaven Landfill as a form of violence against Black people and other underserved groups—including the Indigenous and Latinx peoples—who live there. Monique is a proud tribal council member of the Setalcott Nation and organizes and participates in activities to educate the public about the significance of First Nations on Long Island.

Monique has provided extraordinary leadership in raising awareness about the environmental injustice that has been caused in the minority communities that surround the Brookhaven Landfill. Her advocacy has led many Long Islanders to recognize the structural racism that has impacted the community through the environmental effects of the landfill. Her advocacy has also engaged the federal government, New York State, and local governments in seeking solutions to this issue.

“ERASE Racism is pleased to honor Monique Fitzgerald with our V. Elaine Gross Trailblazer Award,” said Elaine Gross. “Monique is an outstanding example of the power of volunteer advocacy in raising awareness of structural racism and seeking solutions to its damaging and too-often-overlooked implications.”