Rory Doyle
Title
Pascagoula MS, Year
Barbara Weckesser, leader of Cherokee Concerned Citizens, sits for a portrait in her home.
Barbara Weckesser, leader of Cherokee Concerned Citizens, examines a device that measures air quality outside her home.
Barbara Weckesser, leader of Cherokee Concerned Citizens, walks near the large industrial facilities behind her home.
Barbara Weckesser, leader of Cherokee Concerned Citizens, cares for her husband, John, at their home.
A decorative sign welcomes visitors to downtown Pascagoula.
Barbara Weckesser wears a shirt for her organization, the Cherokee Concerned Citizens.
Industrial facilities remain at the Port of Pascagoula
Industrial facilities remain at the Port of Pascagoula.
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Cherokee Concerned Citizens (CCC) is a grassroots group in Pascagoula, Mississippi, formed in 2013 to fight industrial pollution. Surrounded by chemical plants, residents face serious health risks. After being ignored by officials, CCC began collecting data and speaking out, partnering with groups like Earthjustice and Public Lab. Many now seek buyouts, believing the area is too toxic to stay. CCC continues to demand clean air and a safe home. Rory Doyle is a documentary photographer in Cleveland, Mississippi, whose work focuses on the Delta and the South. A 2024 Pulitzer finalist, his photography has appeared in The New York Times, Smithsonian, and ProPublica.