Our Facebook posts about how convicted Balch & Bingham partner Joel I. Gilbert spearheaded an effort that targeted poor black children in North Birmingham so that families would not have their toxic or contaminated property tested by the EPA have taken off across the United States and in Spain.

The CDLU has been in touch with the leadership of BBVA, one of the largest banks in the world based in Spain; BB&T, a large regional bank out of North Carolina; and Regions Financial, a powerhouse bank out of Birmingham demanding that they suspend or terminate their relationship with Balch immediately.

A Balch-made millionaire, Gilbert was on Balch’s payroll until the moment he was convicted on 6 federal charges, including bribery and money laundering.

How can any bank have a relationship with a law firm whose once esteemed partner was convicted of money laundering? Balch & Bingham has become a third-party risk.

The targeting of children using free coat drives and other methods has created angry responses. Here are some:

“I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that the donated coats weren’t purposely infected with smallpox??”

“They don’t have 2 put nothing on them coats, them kids already dying from that toxic ground.”

“Madre mía !!! Cuanta gente mala.” [Oh my gosh! How many bad people.]

“Who is surprised by these heinous acts of racism? This is just the tip of the iceberg!”

“Malditos bastardos” [Evil bastards]

“My nieces lived in this area and went to the elementary school. Both of them were diagnosed with environmental breast cancer, one died and the other had to have a double mastectomy. They allowed this to happen because of greed”

“Para vomitar.” [Make you want to vomit.]

“Some people just have no shame….. bet they were in church every Sunday though….SMH”