October, 20 2021, 12:12pm EDT
Climate Movement Activists Begin Hunger Strike at the White House
WASHINGTON
This morning, on Wednesday, October 20th, climate movement activists began a hunger strike in front of the White House. This escalated action comes one day after President Biden threatened to water down the $3.5T climate and jobs package, and ahead of COP26, where Biden risks showing up without passing the bold climate agenda he was elected on.
The climate activists are demanding that Biden pass at least a $3.5 trillion climate and jobs package, which is Biden's Build Back Better Agenda. This includes a strong CEPP with no fossil fuel investments, a fully funded Civilian Climate Corps, and bold investments in environmental justice programs. Mass protests around climate and the full passage of Biden's climate and jobs agenda began this month with continued protests and bird dogging in D.C. by People's Watch, People v. Fossil Fuels, and with Sunrise escalated actions on Monday in Arizona and New Jersey. Follow the Hunger Strikers on social media here. More information can be found at: bit.ly/hungerstrike4climate.
WHO: Climate movement activists
WHERE: White House, Lafayette Park
WHEN: Starting Wednesday, October 20th at 9am ET
WHAT: Climate activists began an indefinite hunger strike outside of the White House, demanding President Biden deliver on his commitments for climate justice.
*The hunger strikers will be available for press interviews and inquiries all day.
"I'm hunger striking because we all deserve clean air, good jobs, and a livable future. I'm striking for everyone I've ever loved and I won't back down until Biden invests in us, our futures and his own agenda," said Kidus Girma, one of the strikers. "We demand the government mobilize the fullest reach of its power and resources to combat the climate emergency. We demand climate policy rooted in climate science. We elected Joe Biden and gave Democrats a clear mandate to deliver on climate justice. Joe Biden must stand up to Joe Manchin to deliver on his agenda. We demand the first pieces of the Green New Deal."
Sunrise Movement is a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.
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