On the Fenceline: A Fight for Clean Air

After a bankrupting explosion in June 2019, the future of the largest and oldest oil refinery on the east coast remains unknown. Philly Thrive, an organization of frontline residents and environmental activists, escalates their actions as they fight to keep the refinery closed for good. 

“On the Fenceline: A Fight for Clean Air” is an urgent call for justice for Philadelphia’s low-income communities.

After living on the fenceline of the east coasts largest oil refinery and suffering from cancer, asthma, and COPD for years, residents have come together to stand up to CEOs and fight for their right to breathe. The explosion was the tipping point for most, if not all, of the residents living nearby. As the now-defunct refinery land has been put up for sale, the opportunity for community members and environmental activists to shut down operations for good has finally come. Throughout the film, we begin to see and understand that communities, against all odds, have the power to stand up to large, polluting corporations.

This film was co-directed and produced by the members of Picture 2 Picture Productions: Kristen Harrison, Tara Eng, Alisha Tamarchenko and Alex Klein