When the EPA triggered an environmental disaster in August by releasing 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater into the Animas River in Colorado, they failed to realize all that wastewater would end up flowing straight to the Navajo Nation.
"If a corporation would've done that, oh my gosh, that corporation would have been vilified," Glenn said. "Did the government and the EPA help? No, quite the opposite."
Joining Glenn on his TV show Wednesday night was Russell Begaye, president of the Navajo Nation, to discuss the impact of the spill.
"Historically we have endured broken treaties and broken promises and untold stories about spills of uranium on our land," Begaye said. "We want to make sure that story does go out and that EPA is held responsible, the people that caused this."
Three settling ponds are used at Cement Creek, which was flooded with millions of gallons of mining wastewater, on August 11, 2015 in Silverton, Colorado. The Environmental Protection Agency uses settling ponds to reduce the acidity of mining wastewater so that it carries fewer heavy metals. (Photo by Theo Stroomer/Getty Images)
President Begaye continued:
The river that runs through our nation that the Animas River spills into is the San Juan. The San Juan is a slow-moving river, and so anything that comes down from these mountains, especially the yellow water that came down, we know that they settle into our river, into our riverbeds, into our banks.
These are places where our children play. These are places where our cattle drink water. The vegetation that grows along the river on both sides of the banks, those are widely used by livestock owners, by our farmers. This is a source of life.
While they have historically tended to vote for Democrats, President Begaye said the Navajo Nation, as a conservative people, will stand with stand with anyone who will stand with them.
"People don't realize and don't recognize it, but we are a very conservative nation," Begaye said. "Let me tell you, we will stand and support those that will support us and stand alongside us."
Having visited the Navajo Nation and witnessed some of the poverty firsthand, Glenn was quick to pledge his support.
"The need is overwhelming, and it is our responsibility to heal the wounds that are between our people and start to love one another as all of God's people and stand with you," Glenn said. "I'll stand with you in any way. This is an abomination. It's got to stop."
Learn more about how you can get involved here.
Watch a complimentary clip of the interview below.
