By Spencer Schneier, Staff Writer

Last Wednesday, Bennett College held a showing of “Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek.”

The film, directed by Leah Mahan, explores the struggle of the people of Turkey Creek, a small town within the city of Gulfport, Miss.

Centered on Mahan’s friend, Derrick Evans, the film shows him returning to his hometown to document its history. He learns that Gulfport is expanding rapidly, and that Turkey Creek is going to be paved over and developed on if they do not act quickly.

Mahan was on hand to discuss her film, and she noted Evans’ love for history as a reason for some of her directorial choices.

The film is predicated originally on Evans returning to document his hometown, and it also draws parallels to the American Revolution.

Evans was able to successfully get Turkey Creek protected due to environmental concerns about the wetlands that it’s located on, but Hurricane Katrina devastated the town.

The event, which was in part sponsored by the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, also featured a quick speech from their organizers. They discussed that environmental justice issues like this are common across the south, and noted some examples in North Carolina.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.”

One such example is Sanford, NC, where Duke Energy is moving coal ash to a nearby landfill.

According to Coal Ash Facts, coal ash is best described as “the generic term referring to several very distinct materials produced when we combust coal to produce electricity.”

The waste material can cause public health issues if it is not disposed of properly, some of which include birth defects.

This is one of many environmental justice issues in North Carolina.

Mahan’s film won acclaim at the New Orleans Film Festival for Documentary Feature in 2013.

Mahan spent last week touring North Carolina universities. She had stops at Warren Wilson College, Bennett College and UNC-Chapel Hill.