19 Facts About Lois Gibbs

Lois Marie Gibbs was born on June 25,1951 and is an American environmental activist.

Lois Gibbs's actions resulted in the evacuation of over 800 families.

Lois Gibbs founded the non-profit Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste in 1981 to help train and support local activists with their environmental work.

Lois Gibbs continues to work with the organization, renamed the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice.

Lois Marie Gibbs was born in a blue-collar area of Grand Island, New York.

Lois Gibbs had five siblings that she grew up with; her father worked in steel mills and her mother was a housewife.

Lois Gibbs had two children and moved to Love Canal.

Lois Gibbs approached the School Board after worrying about the safety of her child who attended the 93rd Street School, and they refused to take any action.

Lois Gibbs began speaking with other parents and in 1978, she started the Love Canal Parents Movement.

Lois Gibbs created a petition and reached out to the residents of her neighborhood by going door-to-door to gather support.

Lois Gibbs's efforts were centered on her role as a mother fighting to protect her children's health.

Lois Gibbs led her community in a battle against the local, state, and federal governments by presenting the signatures to the New York State Department of Health.

When Lois Gibbs began organizing in Love Canal, and later continued her activism nationally, many doubted her ability to be effective.

Lois Gibbs's efforts led to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or Superfund, which is used to locate and clean up toxic waste sites throughout the United States.

Lois Gibbs described him as "incredibly supportive" of her activism at Love Canal.

Lois Gibbs did so without her family and bought a house in Virginia.

In 1980, Lois Gibbs had formed the Citizens' Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste.

Lois Gibbs has authored several books about the Love Canal story and the effects of toxic waste.

Lois Gibbs's story was dramatized in the 1982 made-for-TV movie Lois Gibbs: the Love Canal Story, in which she was played by Marsha Mason.