ASIAN WISCONZINE ONLINE



JUNE 2022 ISSUE



Fight for Our Future: Activists Demand Action on Climate and Justice



By Hannah Malus, Margaret Cooney, & Caroline Alt



(Left)

On Saturday, April 23, activists took to the streets of Washington, D.C., to demand that our leaders finally deliver on climate, care, jobs, and justice. In photo: Malik Smith & Ryan Kirkpatrick





This ARTICLE was published by the center for american progrESS


Scientists from around the world have sounded a terrifying alarm: Without immediate action, the world is set to blow by the needed pollution reduction benchmarks and lock in a future with more intense storms, deadly heat waves, and ecological collapse—now and for generations to come. People of color, those with disabilities, and low-income communities, in particular, will continue to be disproportionately burdened by the health and economic devastation caused by pollution and climate change.



But there is hope. We can still realize a pollution-free future powered by clean energy and built with union jobs, all centered on racial and economic justice. This will only be possible, however, if our leaders act now.



At the “Fight for Our Future” rally, timed with Earth Day 2022, the Center for American Progress spoke with advocates about their vision for a just, clean energy future and asked them what they are fighting for.


Selected quotes from Activists:


“I am here today because I think that with [congressional action], we are able to help the environment—and the Black and brown communities who are most affected." -- Malik Smith



"I’m here today to maybe find hope: hope for a future." -- Ryan Kirkpatrick











(LEFT) Yao & Neville Hemming


"We’re here because we realize the climate is changing and that we need to not screw up the Earth for people here. We want to do our part: to say something, to join in and contribute what we can to make more people realize that [the climate crisis] is happening. -- Yao Hemming.


"I know we can all do stuff individually, and I think doing individual actions is important. But we need bigger changes, systemic changes. We need federal legislation [on climate]." -- Neville Hemming




CONCLUSION



The window for leaders to avert irreversible climate catastrophe is rapidly closing, and the people have made their voices heard: Congress must invest in a pollution-free future now. The 100 percent clean energy economy can be built with union jobs and address racial, economic, and environmental injustice—but only if our leaders act quickly to deliver.


Hannah Malus--Deputy Director, Energy and Environment Campaigns: Margaret Cooney--Campaign Manager Caroline Alt--Content Strategy Coordinator