Barry, Activists Calling for EPA Testing on School Fields

Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) is holding a news conference this morning alongside community activists, parents and educators outside Anacostia High School to demand the EPA do immediate testing on all public school and recreation fields for toxins associated with silica sand.

Activists say the fields refurbished by the city (Dunbar, McKinley, Roosevelt, Coolidge, Ballou and Wilson High Schools) include products with silica sand, which is deemed dangerous when inhaled. They are also concerned that four additional fields, including Anacostia High's (along with the fields at Spingarn, Cardozo and Eastern high schools), will be updated with the same methods.

Those also set to attend the 11 a.m. news conference include Pastor Calvin Matthews and Marvin Tucker, assistant football coach of Anacostia High, according to a Barry news release.