Luke Cole passed away in Uganda while on sabbatical on June 6, 2009. He was a visionary leader who helped define the role of law & lawyers in the environmental justice movement. With the inspiration and support of his mentor, Ralph Abascal of California Rural Legal Assistance, he founded CRPE soon after his graduation from Harvard Law School. Luke saw that as a legal field, environmental justice could be a bridge between the traditional environmental movement and the traditional civil rights movement. Although he worked hard to bring lawyers into the environmental justice movement, he was always mindful of the secondary role they should play. Luke recognized that in the end, environmental racism is a political problem, not a legal one, and therefore that the ultimate end is to empower disempowered communities. In his view, no legal strategy was adequate unless it met the test of three questions: Will it educate? Will it build the movement? Will it address the root of the problem?

Luke came from privilege, and he often laughed about being called a "limousine liberal," but in his life and his work he walked the walk. He used his education, his race and gender privilege, his "macho law brain," his charisma, and his heart to help those who did not have a voice influence the decisions that affect their lives and health. His "from the ground up" philosophy of environmental justice advocacy has influenced an entire field of legal practice and scholarship, as well as built lasting relationships with the communities with which we work. While we feel his loss deeply, CRPE is committed to continuing his work and ensuring that his vision of justice and equity is realized.

Memorial Services (time and location) will be announced at http://www.lcmemorial.org