POISONING ST. LOUIS IS A HOT TOPIC FROM THE COLD WAR


By bblouin
Poisoning St. Louis

Before it was a disappointment, it was a conspiracy. Before it was a conspiracy, it was an experiment to test how chemical and biological weapons would disperse over terrain. During the aftermath of World War II, the United States was doing many different things to bolster defenses, prepare for potential attacks, and win an arms race. All of these issues were at the center of the Cold War, and the results would sometimes lead to unethical operations and oversight. One of the biggest examples of both was the U.S. Army poisoning St. Louis, MO, and then trying to cover it up for decades. Read next:Juneteenth 2022 Will Celebrate Freedom

Operation LAC Remains a Controversy for St. Louis Citizens

Operation Large Area Coverage (LAC) was performed to see how chemicals and biological weapons would disperse if one was ever detonated. At the time, what was used by the U.S. Army Chemical Corps was not thought to be harmful, such as Bacillus globigii, which is now known to be a pathogen among humans. Operation LAC took place in many areas of the United States, but in St. Louis, things took an even darker turn. Many citizens of St. Louis, MO, have been suspecting the U.S. government and the Army for decades. The government poisoning of St. Louis remains a hot topic of discussion, as many believe they have faced long-term side effects from exposure, while the government is adamant that the levels of exposure were harmless. The substance in question is zinc cadmium sulfide, a chemical of great controversy. Not only because of its use for such experiments but also due to the decades of denial by the American government that refused to acknowledge its use. There are many concerns about the government poisoning of St. Louis, MO, that reach far beyond the unveiling of documents that confirmed the experiments.

Blacks Affected Heavily by St. Louis Government Poisoning

What the Black community experienced during this time took things to a harsher level filled with lies, coverups, and outright abuse for years in both the ‘50s and ‘60s. Part of what is to blame for poisoning St. Louis, MO, goes farther than planes dropping chemicals to watch disbursement patterns. Many Black residents who lived through this time would watch as U.S. government officials would go on top of the Pruitt-Igoe housing project and dump a mystery mist off of the roof. There were also trucks driving around mostly Black neighborhoods spreading chemicals for the experiment. The survivors of the Cold War-era experiments would watch as personnel in radioactive protective gear would come to their communities and spread the chemicals among the population. Making matters worse, besides what looked to be a systematic experiment at the expense of Blacks, the U.S. government would deny any and all wrongdoing until the ‘90s. Even after releasing documents showcasing that the government sprayed chemicals in St. Louis, officials would downplay the incident, further silencing Black voices.

"Target: St. Louis" Aims at Highlighting These Atrocities

Segregation was still a major factor when the experiments were conducted, and as a result, many Black residents rightfully feel targeted. Dropping any type of chemicals on citizens without consent is immoral regardless of the intent. The events in St. Louis, Missouri, however, feel deliberate to many. Filmmaker, director, and St. Louis native Damien Smith aimed to highlight these sentiments and more of those who faced this reality through his documentary Target: St. Louis. “They targeted us, in my opinion. They targeted St. Louis, as something that they can do something to a population and then walk away with no follow-up. They targeted my people, they targeted my community. They targeted my parents, my grandparents, (and) everybody who was affected by this. This is our community. And when I learned about this I was really appalled,” said Smith while speaking on his film to St. Louis Public Radio. The topic of the government’s role in poisoning St. Louis, MO, continues to cause pain and distrust in the hearts of many. Army scientists secretly sprayed St. Louis with radioactive particles for years, and then the U.S. government attempted to cover it up without truly making amends. Now, the generation that faced such irresponsible adversities is speaking out to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself to others. Suggested read:All-Black Female 6888th Central Postal Battalion To Be Recognized


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