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Person

Alexis Papali

Nationality:

American
Occupation:

Former Organizer for Clean Water Action’s Green Justice Campaign
Residence:

Boston, Massachusetts
Political Party:

N/A

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Alexis “Alex” Papali 1 is a former organizer for left-of-center environmentalist Clean Water Action’s Green Justice Campaign and former staffer for the Center for Economic Democracy (CED). 2 3 On March 5, 2023, 4 He was charged with offenses related to participation in an alleged left-wing Antifa-aligned attack on the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, a law enforcement training facility nicknamed “Cop City” in Atlanta, Georgia. 5

Papali supports the critical race theory-influenced concepts of “environmental justice” and “equity.” 6 He has called capitalism the “most damaging” of systems impacting the global political economy and said there must first be a “collective process of mental decolonizing” to develop an alternative to capitalism as an economic system. 7

Papali conducted much of his previous activism for Clean Water Action in Massachusetts and is originally from Boston, where he first became involved with left-wing activism as a high school student. 8 9 Papali’s commentary has appeared in several of the state’s leading news publications, including the Boston Globe and the Herald News, a local paper published by Gannett, the publisher of USA Today. 10 11 In a 2023 podcast about creating microgrids, he praised the Biden administration’s far-left Justice40 Initiative  and claimed to have been in contact with the Department of Energy to ensure that left-of-center “environmental justice communities” are at the head of the line for federal resourcing. 12

Career

Alexis “Alex” Papali 13 is a former organizer for left-of-center environmentalist group Clean Water Action’s Green Justice Campaign. 14 Papali worked at Clean Water Action from April 2010 until 2020 15 on issues such as the environmentalist concept of “energy democracy” and building community microgrids. 16

During his time working for Clean Water Action in Massachusetts, Papali helped promote the organization’s anti-fossil fuel and pro-environmentalist agenda in local and state politics. This included participating in a summit with Boston officials where activists pushed for policies that would require city contracts to meet environmentalist criteria. 17 He also wrote a Clean Water Action statement supporting the Green New Deal, a set of proposed federal government policies intended to make sweeping changes to the United States economy and to American society with the stated purpose of averting the alleged dangers of man-made climate change. In addition, the statement attacked the administration of then-Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) for approving a permit for a planned gas pipeline, as well as perceived concessions to utility companies and insufficient attention to what the group called “environmental justice.” 18

Previously, Papali was the political director at the Center for Economic Democracy (CED) 19 and the primary coordinator of the Worcester Community Energy Alliance. 20 He also worked as the director of regional economies for CED 21 and has been a steering committee member at the Climate Adaptation Forum, organized by the Environmental Business Council of New England and the University of Massachusetts Boston Sustainable Solutions Lab. 22

Papali also has coordinated the Boston Recycling Coalition, 23 has been a member of the advisory board of the Mass Redistribution Fund, 24 and has been an organizer with the Boston branch of Jericho Movement. 25 26

“Cop City” Arrest

In March 2023, Papali was one of 23 individuals arrested 27 for their roles in an allegedly violent, left-wing Antifa-associated attack on the “Cop City” law-enforcement training facility in Atlanta, Georgia. 28 His one-time employer Clean Water Action declined to comment and attempted to distance itself from Papali, claiming that he had not worked for the organization since July 2020. 29 30

Activist Positions

Alex Papali supports the critical race theory-influenced concepts of environmental justice and equity 31 and has called capitalism the “most damaging” of systems impacting the global political economy. He has also said there needs to be a “collective process of mental decolonizing” to address capitalism and other issues. 32 He criticized the Trump administration’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic and supported release of prisoners and suspension of rent and mortgage payments during the pandemic. 33 Papali also supports a ban on plastic bags. 34

Papali has claimed that the United States’ “pernicious histories of white supremacy and systemic racism” have caused low-income and minority communities to suffer more from pollution, poor infrastructure, and so-called “climate risks” than other groups. 35

Papali supported state-level legislation in Massachusetts to advance the critical race theory-influenced concept of environmental justice 36 and has called for Massachusetts to “prioritize equity” in its energy efficiency programs. 37

In a 2023 podcast about creating microgrids, Papali praised the Biden administration’s far-left Justice40 Initiative. He also claimed to have been in contact with the Department of Energy to ensure that the left-of-center “environmental justice communities” are at the head of the line for resourcing. 38 In 2022, he was a guest speaker at an event on the concept of economic justice at Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute. 39

References

  1. “UPDATE: Mugshots and Arrestee Info Added- 3/5/2023 Atlantic Public Safety Training Center Demonstrations.” Atlanta Police Department. March 5, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.atlantapd.org/Home/Components/News/News/3927/17.
  2. Thomas Catenacci and Joe Schoffstal. “Domestic terror suspects in ‘Cop City’ attack have links to left-wing groups, protest movements.” Fox News. March 7, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/domestic-terror-suspects-cop-city-attack-links-left-wing-groups-protest-movements.
  3. “Alex Papali.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed Mach 14, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-papali-99282322/.
  4. Jeff Martin and Jeff Amy. “3 from Massachusetts among 23 charged with terrorism in Atlanta ‘Cop City’ protest.” Boston.com via Associated Press. March 7, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.boston.com/news/crime/2023/03/07/3-from-massachusetts-among-23-charged-with-terrorism-in-atlanta-cop-city-protest/.
  5. “23 charged in lash between protestors and police at future Atlanta public safety training center site.” Fox 5 Atlanta. March 5, 2023. Updated March 6, 2023. Accessed March 15, 2023.
  6. Papali, Alex. “It’s Time to Prioritize Equity in Massachusetts’ Energy Efficiency Programs. “Barr Foundation. June 13, 2019. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/it-s-time-to-prioritize-equity-in-massachusetts-energy-efficiency-programs.
  7. “Our Team.” Center for Economic Democracy. October 1, 2022. Accessed via WebArchive March 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221001082325/https://www.economicdemocracy.us/copy-of-our-team-1/.
  8. “Posts by Alex Papali.” Clean Water Action. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://cleanwater.org/author/alex-papali
  9. “Alex Papali.” Barr Foundation. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.barrfoundation.org/bios/alex-papali
  10. Alex Papali, Rebecca Herst. “Infrastructure investments move us toward an equitable climate resilient future.” The Boston Globe. April 19, 2021. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/19/opinion/infrastructure-investments-move-us-toward-an-equitable-climate-resilient-future/
  11. Sabrina Davis, Alex Papali. “Time for Massachusetts to follow SouthCoast’s lead on the environment.” The Herald News. October 8, 2019. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.heraldnews.com/story/opinion/2019/10/08/time-for-massachusetts-to-follow/2578307007/
  12. “Building a Microgrid Ep. 7 People Power: The Role of Labor.” Behind the Switch. Timestamp 5:43. March 14, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://soundcloud.com/behindtheswitch/building-a-microgrid-ep-7-people-power-the-role-of-labor?si=50954653c5f9421fbe5dd42a33ba93bd&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing.
  13. “UPDATE: Mugshots and Arrestee Info Added- 3/5/2023 Atlantic Public Safety Training Center Demonstrations.” Atlanta Police Department. March 5, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.atlantapd.org/Home/Components/News/News/3927/17.
  14. Thomas Catenacci and Joe Schoffstal. “Domestic terror suspects in ‘Cop City’ attack have links to left-wing groups, protest movements.” Fox News. March 7, 2023. Accessed March 16, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/domestic-terror-suspects-cop-city-attack-links-left-wing-groups-protest-movements.
  15. “Alex Papali.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed Mach 14, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-papali-99282322/.
  16. “Alex Papali.” Barr Foundation. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.barrfoundation.org/bios/alex-papali.
  17. Alex Papali. “Zero Waste Municipal Leaders Summit.” Clean Water Action. April 14, 2016. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://cleanwater.org/2016/04/14/zero-waste-municipal-leaders-summit
  18. Alex Papali. “Trifecta: Three Vicious Environmental Decisions From Gov. Baker.” Clean Water Action. March 20, 2019. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://cleanwater.org/2019/03/20/trifecta-three-vicious-environmental-decisions-gov-baker
  19. Alex Papali and Rebecca Herst. “Infrastructure investments move us toward an equitable climate an resilient future.” Boston Globe. April 19, 2021. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/19/opinion/infrastructure-investments-move-us-toward-an-equitable-climate-resilient-future/.
  20. “Grant Application.” New England Grassroots Environment Fund. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://grassrootsfund.org/sites/default/files/attachments/grow-grant/jumpstart_application_wcea.pdf.
  21. “Our Team.” Center for Economic Democracy. October 1, 2022. Accessed via WebArchive March 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221001082325/https://www.economicdemocracy.us/copy-of-our-team-1/.
  22. “Climate Adaptation Forum Steering Committee.” Environmental Business Council of New England, UMass Boston, Sustainable Solutions Lab, and Climate Adaptation Forum. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://climateadaptationforum.org/steering-committee//.
  23. “Alex Papali.” Barr Foundation. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.barrfoundation.org/bios/alex-papali
  24. “Advisory Board.” Mass Redistribution Fund. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.redistributionfund.org/copy-of-who-we-are.
  25. “Jericho Movement: Boston Branch.” Facebook Profile. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/jerichoboston/.
  26. “Advisory Board.” Mass Redistribution Fund. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.redistributionfund.org/copy-of-who-we-are.
  27. Andrew Dorn and Ryan Bass. “Who are the 23 people facing terrorism charges in Georgia?” NewsNation. March 7, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/southeast/domestic-terrorism-georgia-police/.
  28. Thomas Cantenacci and Joe Schoffstall. “Domestic terror suspects in “Cop City” attack have links to left-wing groups, protest movements.” Fox News. March 7, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/domestic-terror-suspects-cop-city-attack-links-left-wing-groups-protest-movements.
  29. Thomas Catenacci. “Domestic terror suspects in ‘Cop City’ attack have links to left-wing groups, protest movements.” Fox News. March 7, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/domestic-terror-suspects-cop-city-attack-links-left-wing-groups-protest-movements
  30. Alex Papali.” Clean Water Action. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://cleanwater.org/author/alex-papali
  31. Papali, Alex. “It’s Time to Prioritize Equity in Massachusetts’ Energy Efficiency Programs. “Barr Foundation. June 13, 2019. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/it-s-time-to-prioritize-equity-in-massachusetts-energy-efficiency-programs
  32. “Our Team.” Center for Economic Democracy. October 1, 2022. Accessed via WebArchive March 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20221001082325/https://www.economicdemocracy.us/copy-of-our-team-1/.
  33. Papali, Alex. “Small is Big: Mutual Aid in a Time of Fear, Blame, and Inaction.” Dig Boston. March 24, 2020. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://digboston.com/small-is-big-mutual-aid-in-a-time-of-fear-blame-and-inaction/.
  34. “Tweet.” Clean Water MA. Posted December 13, 2016. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://twitter.com/CleanH2OMA/status/808749649389649933.
  35. Alex Papali and Rebecca Herst. “Infrastructure investments move us toward an equitable climate an resilient future.” Boston Globe. April 19, 2021. Accessed march 14, 2023. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/19/opinion/infrastructure-investments-move-us-toward-an-equitable-climate-resilient-future/.
  36. Sabrina Davis and Alex Papali. “Opinion: Time for Massachusetts to follow SouthCoast’s lead on the environment.” October 8, 2019. Accessed via WebArchive March 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20191109180739/https://www.tauntongazette.com/opinion/20191008/opinion-time-for-massachusetts-to-follow-southcoasts-lead-on-environment.
  37. Papali, Alex. “It’s Time to Prioritize Equity in Massachusetts’ Energy Efficiency Programs. “Barr Foundation. June 13, 2019. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/it-s-time-to-prioritize-equity-in-massachusetts-energy-efficiency-programs.
  38. Building a Microgrid Ep. 7 People Power: The Role of Labor.” Behind the Switch. Timestamp 5:43. March 14, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://soundcloud.com/behindtheswitch/building-a-microgrid-ep-7-people-power-the-role-of-labor?si=50954653c5f9421fbe5dd42a33ba93bd&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing.
  39. “Event Recap: Economic Justice: Investing in Local Communities for Transformation.” Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://globalresilience.northeastern.edu/event-recap-economic-justice-investing-in-local-communities-for-transformation/.
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