Sunrise Movement Responds to Extreme Weather Ravaging the U.S.

In response to fatal heat waves in the West, destructive hurricanes like Elsa sweeping the Gulf South, and the ocean on fire in the Gulf of Mexico, Ellen Sciales, Communications Director of Sunrise Movement, released the following statement:

"Buildings are collapsing into the sea. Infrastructure is melting. Hundreds are dying from extreme heat. Millions are without power. The ocean is literally on fire. The climate crisis is here. And yet, some Democratic politicians like Joe Biden are still pushing for a compromise on climate under the guise of "bipartisanship" - though it's actually just doing the bidding of Exxon lobbyists.

"Communities in every corner of this country, especially low income communities and communities of color, are currently bracing for or suffering from the climate crisis. It is clear we need bold action now. And despite these deadly climate disasters and videos of the Gulf of Mexico literally on fire after a pipeline leak, Biden is still refusing to stop Line 3, which will further endanger our air, our water and lock us into more fossil fuel development.

"This "unprecedented" weather must serve as a wake up call for our politicians. The time for incrementalism is over. We need to call the "bipartisan" infrastructure plan what it is: the Exxon-Mobil Plan. Politicians must stop entertaining a weak, fossil fuel-backed plan, and instead seize on this historic opportunity to avert the climate crisis by investing in a mass mobilization of our society and economy, rebuilding the infrastructure we lost to the crisis and protecting the lives of millions of Americans. If Biden and Democrats do not pass and sign trillions of dollars in climate investments including a massive Civilian Climate Corps through a Democratic reconciliation bill, it will be a death sentence for our generation."

This comes after Sunrise Movement's June 4th and June 28th protests at the White House and the conclusion of three marches - in PA, CA, and the Gulf South - to call on Biden to pass an infrastructure package that meets the scale and scope of the climate crisis, specifically with a fully funded CCC.