Niger Innis

Credentials

• Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, Georgetown University (1990). [1]

Background

Niger Innis is the National Spokesman for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a group that has recently aligned itself with numerous conservative think tanks and “anti-environmental” organizations while maintaining a stance skeptical of man-made climate change. He is also the son of CORE National Chairman and CEO Roy Innis. CORE has received at least $325,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998, with some of these funds earmarked for “global climate outreach.” [2],  [1]

In addition to his role at CORE, Innis is a member of the Advisory Committee of the National Center for Public Policy Research Project 21. NCPPR has a number of ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council, a lobbying group that has helped model a variety of bills for special interest groups. More information on ALEC is available at the Center For Media and Democracy’s ALEC Exposed project. [1]

According to a Mother Jones article published by Chris Mooney, Niger Innis has said that the terms “eco-imperialism” and “eco-slaughter” should be household words. [3]

Stance on Climate Change

October 10, 2008

Speaking with the Frontier Center for Public Policy (FCPP), Innis said:

“[Climate change policies] are really just a way of raising the price of energy and forcing citizens to adopt a lower standard of living, rather than ‘solutions’ to climate change. We are extremely skeptical of the motivations behind these proposals, especially since these programs will almost certainly not result in any measurable change in future climates.” [4]

Key Quotes

April 22, 2004

Innis told journalists and others attending an Earth Day discussion at the National Press Club:

“[W]e must stop trying to protect our planet from every imaginable, exaggerated or imaginary risk. And we must stop trying to protect it on the backs, and the graves, of he nation’s and world’s most powerless and impoverished people.” [5]

Key Deeds

August 25, 2015

Niger Innis was a speaker at the “Affordable Energy Summit 8.0” in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was co-sponsored by the Heartland Institute and the Libertarian Party of Nevada. [6]

According to the Affordable Energy Summit’s “Events” webpage, the purpose of the summit was to “discuss the costs of climate change, as well as the fiscal and environmental impact of the so-called ‘Clean Power Plan.’” [7] 

The “Events” page of the Affordable Energy Summit’s website goes on to state that the speakers at the National Clean Energy Summit, which took place just one day earlier, “believe that evidence of man-made global warming is enough to justify any action intended to solve the problem, without regard for effectiveness and without any regard for the expense.” [7] 

September, 2009

At a luncheon talk at the Montana Petroleum Association annual meeting, Innis called for the production of “more of everything” including solar and wind power as well as “good old-fashioned fossil fuel.” The Billings Gazette reported that Innis “blasted environmental groups – repeatedly calling them ‘the green mafia” – and the ‘elite media” saying they were trying to stop energy development.” [8]

April 22, 2004

Niger Innis spoke at a Capitol Hill briefing on behalf of CORE, called “Eco-Imperialism: Reflections on Earth Day.” Other speakers at the briefing included climate change skeptics Sallie Baliunas, American Enterprise Institute fellow Roger Bate, and Paul Driessen. [5]

“We intend to make this Earth Day a clarion call  for human rights and more responsible environmentalism,” Innis said. [5]

May 29, 2002

Innis responded to a protest of ExxonMobil’s history of human rights violations, and what protestors described as “deliberately deceiving the public by manipulating and misrepresenting solid science on global warming.”  [9]

Niger Innis described the protestors as remnants of “the anarchists, socialists, communist types of the 1960’s” and requested to testify on ExxonMobil’s behalf. When the protestors refused, he described them as “arrogant” for opposing economic growth. [9]

Affiliations

• Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) — National Spokesman and various past positions. [1]
• Alliance to Stop the War on the Poor — “Co-Chair.” [10]
• National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) — Serves on Board of Directors. [6]

Social Media

• @Niger_Iinnis/@NigerInnisCORE on Twitter.

Publications

Niger Innis has primarily written on topics related to civil rights, including this article in the Spring 2002 edition of American Outlook. [11]

Resources

1. “National Spokesperson,” CORE Executive Staff. Archived February 24, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/bGwvc 
2. “FACTSHEET: CONGRESS OF RACIAL EQUALITY, CORE,” ExxonSecrets. Accessed February 24, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/g2jmi
3. Chris Mooney. “Roy Innis: CORE of the Climate Problem?,” Mother Jones, May/June 2005 issue.
4. “Niger Innis, Congress of Racial Equality,” Conversations from the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, October 10, 2008. Archived April 1, 2013. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tyJJA
5. “Eco-Imperialism: Reflections on Earth Day,” PRNewswire, April 22, 2004. Archived February 25, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/z3yn3
6. “Speakers,” Affordable Energy Summit 8.0. Archived September 3, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/iiBhz
7. “Events,” Affordable Energy Summit 8.0. Archived September 3, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/THVSU
8. Clair Johnson. “Civil rights spokesman speaks to Montana Petroleum Association,” Billings Gazette, September 2, 2009. Archived February 25, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/vQ8Sb
9. Marc Morano. “Oil Giant ‘Guilty’ of Crimes against Humanity, Protesters Say,” CNSNews.com, May 29, 2002. Archived January 2, 2004. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xDJPd
10. “Energy, Climate Change and The War on the Poor (Regina),” Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Archived December 17, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/qtAxZ
11. Niger Innis. “Two Visions for America and Race,” American Outlook, June 1, 2002. Retrieved from Sagamore Institute. Archived February 25, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/MXasa

Other Resources

• “Niger Innis,” SourceWatch. 
• ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Niger Innis.