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Hundreds of 'Wildlife Warriors' Bring Trump Resistance to Earth Day
Volunteers Urge Communities in Every State to Unite Against Political Attacks on Environment
TUCSON, ARIZ. - More than 250 Center for Biological Diversity volunteers will be at Earth Day festivals, rallies and other events across the country this week as part of the growing resistance to partisan attacks on the climate, public lands and endangered species. The volunteers, called Wildlife Warriors, will be at 145 Earth Day events in all 50 states encouraging communities to take action to save the environment.
“The Center’s Wildlife Warriors are rallying a divided nation like those who took to the streets on the first Earth Day did in 1970. We’re bringing Earth Day back to its roots,” said Leigh Moyer, an organizer with the Center. “Over the years Earth Day events have shifted from protest against the destruction of the environment to focus on recycling and composting. Education is important, but in this time of crisis we need to unite and raise our voices to protect the planet.”
The Wildlife Warrior campaign is part of the Center’s 100 Days of Resistance plan to stop President Trump’s unprecedented attack on wildlife, people, civil rights and democracy. More than 270,000 people have signed the Center's Pledge of Resistance since the election.
At Earth Day events, volunteers are collecting thousands of postcards to send to Congress demanding that representatives defend protect the environment. More than 500 postcards were collected at the first events earlier this week.
“In April alone the Trump administration and his Republican supporters have opened the door for states to cut funds for reproductive healthcare, pushed forward plans to drill in the Artic and indicated they intend to pull out of the Paris climate accord,” said Moyer. “Earth Day comes at a crucial time this year, when we need to hold leadership accountable and build momentum to halt these dangerous attacks. That's what the Wildlife Warriors are out there doing this weekend.”
A map of the Earth Day events coast to coast along with images and actions are available here. Images, video and interviews with local activists are available upon request.
At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature - to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters, and climate that species need to survive.