Date: 2024-07-17 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00016328
Activism: Green New Deal
Sunrise Movement
Young Kentucky climate activists demanding Green New Deal arrested at Mitch McConnell’s office
Peter Burgess
Young Kentucky climate activists demanding Green New Deal arrested at Mitch McConnell’s office
Hundreds of Kentucky high school students descended on the Capitol Monday. McConnell wouldn't meet with them.
Hundreds of Kentucky high school students and climate campaigners with the youth-led Sunrise Movement descended on the Capitol Hill office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday to deliver 100,000 petition signatures and stage a sit-in to make clear to lawmakers that young people want a Green New Deal for their communities and futures.
For calling on McConnell to heed public demands for federal lawmakers to pass policies that will phase out fossil fuels and combat the global climate crisis while also creating green jobs and a more just economy, more than 40 demonstrators were arrested:
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Sunrise Movement 🌅 @sunrisemvmt BREAKING: arrests happening now outside #OilMoneyMitch's DC office
182 11:38 AM - Feb 25, 2019 88 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy
As recent polling shows more than 80 percent of Americans back key elements of the Green New Deal put forth by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., the mobilization to increase pressure on McConnell comes after the majority leader announced last week that he plans to rush a floor vote on the resolution, which critics denounced as a ploy to fuel divisions in the Democratic Party.
“Kentucky youth traveled here today because their state needs a Green New Deal. Mitch McConnell’s Green New Deal vote is a political stunt to score some points for his wealthy donors,” Sunrise Movement executive director Varshini Prakash said in a statement. “We’re here to warn him and all senators: if you refuse to back the Green New Deal, young people will remember next time you ask for our votes.”
Demonstrators who carried signs that read “Oil & gas $$ or our lives?,” “Green New Deal,” and “Mitch, Look us in the eyes” as well as supporters posted updates on social media from Monday’s demonstration with the hashtags #OilMoneyMitch and #LookUsInTheEyes:
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matthew miles goodrich @mmilesgoodrich Young Kentuckians with @sunrisemvmt were just kicked out of #OilMoneyMitch's senate office because he won't #lookusintheyes as he condemns our generation.
Join the livestream: https://www.facebook.com/sunrisemvmt/videos/994371184095235/ …
146 11:34 AM - Feb 25, 2019 46 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy View image on Twitter
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350 dot org ✔ @350 🚨 Stand with the young folks risking arrest in Washington, DC today to stand up to #OilMoneyMitch & fight for the just climate solutions we need.
If you're in the US, call your Reps to ask them to co-sponsor the resolutions for a #GreenNewDeal: https://350.org/callgnd
68 11:47 AM - Feb 25, 2019 35 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy
“I am here because people in my community don’t have jobs, are starving and turning to opioids and dying,” 15-year-old Lily Gardner of Lexington, Kentucky, said in a statement. “Mitch McConnell refuses to do anything about it. His own constituents — high schoolers — have traveled here to meet with him. All we want is for him to put our lives above the interests of his campaign donors.”
Both from McConnell’s office and outside the Capitol building, the youth demonstrators shared why they felt compelled to visit their senator in Washington — with some pointing to warnings from a recent U.N. report that the international community has about 12 years to pursue “rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented” systemic changes needed to avert climate catastrophe:
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matthew miles goodrich @mmilesgoodrich Young Kentuckians w @sunrisemvmtlou.... 🏛️ visited #OilMoneyMitch's office in KY multiple times last week ⛺️ camped out when he wouldn't meet with them 🧳traveled to DC to confront the Senator directly 🚔 are now getting arrested bc he is too cowardly to #LookUsInTheEyes
193 11:52 AM - Feb 25, 2019 102 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who is among the scores of co-sponsors of the Green New Deal resolution, voiced support for the sit-in at McConnell’s office on Monday, urging the youth climate activists to “keep fighting.”
Senator Jeff Merkley ✔ @SenJeffMerkley .@senatemajldr claims that a #GreenNewDeal is unattainable, as if he suddenly cares about climate. Instead of his obstruction, we need these bold and transformation solutions to save our planet and economy. Keep fighting, @sunrisemvmt!
1,975 11:47 AM - Feb 25, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 666 people are talking about this