Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is featured speaker at University of Mount Union

ALLIANCE − Famed environmental activist Erin Brockovich will be the featured speaker at the University of Mount Union on April 25.

The 2024 Schooler Lecture will begin at 8 p.m. in the Timken Gymnasium.

A popular movie released in 2000 was based on Brockovich's fight against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. for its role in groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California. Actress Julia Roberts portrayed Brockovich in the Academy Award-winning film.

In the 1990s, Brockovich helped expose water contamination caused by the company, leading to a $333 million settlement.

'I don't think we're any better off.'

In a 2022 interview with The Canton Repository, Brockovich, who was speaking at Kent State University at Stark, bluntly assessed the current environmental state of the country.

"I don't think we're any better off," she said of the environment compared to the '90s. "I think we're actually worse off than when I began my work in Hinkley, and I think the thing that I feel today is absolute frustration and disappointment that we're here, because we should have known, we may have known, but we've failed to act to the point where we're now in a crisis."

Speaking out Environmental warrior Erin Brockovich bringing clean water message to KSU Stark

Brockovich, president of Brockovich Research & Consulting, is involved in numerous environmental projects worldwide. She also assists with groundwater contamination complaints in every state, as well as overseas.

Brockovich also has hosted the Lifetime series, “Final Justice with Erin Brockovich," which celebrates ordinary women who triumph when faced with overwhelming adversity.

A bestselling author, her books include, "Superman's Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It" and “Take It From Me: Life’s A Struggle, But You Can Win.”

National environmental story 'We can't make it go back to the way it was.' East Palestine wrestles with derailment

Brockovich visits East Palestine

Brockovich also has monitored and commented on the train derailment in East Palestine in Columbiana County that occurred on Feb. 3, 2023.

The crash temporarily uprooted many people from their homes and businesses, led to a major environmental cleanup, sparked concerns about long-term health effects and triggered numerous lawsuits by residents and businesses that were later consolidated into a class-action suit.

In February, Brockovich, who has visited East Palestine, posted an article online at The Brockovich Report about how the disaster has impacted residents in the village and those who live outside it.

"Not one of those people was at fault," reads the column, authored by Brockovich and Suzanne Boothby. "And yet they are the ones left with an uncertain future."

How to get tickets to hear Erin Brockovich

Free tickets for the event can be reserved by visiting https://www.mountunion.edu/arts-and-culture/box-office or calling the Mount Union Box Office from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at 330-821-2565 while classes are in session.

Tickets remained available as of Thursday afternoon, said Lynn Riggle, assistant director of communication.

The Timken Gymnasium is in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex at 523 W Hartshorn St. A large parking lot is to the right of the building. Other parking is also available on campus.

Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com and X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint

This article originally appeared on The Repository: From water contamination to East Palestine, Erin Brockovich speaks out