🔗 Share this article

While the present government cracks down on restrictions on both climate regulations and activist movements, the youth climate justice group, famous for popularizing the sweeping climate legislation, is broadening its mission to confront autocratic governance.

Day by day, the administration is seizing power and shredding the Constitution,” stated the organization's executive director in an open letter. “What ordinary people do in the coming months will determine whether those in power can cement their grip and turn this country into a playground for the wealthy elite.”

In contrast to most of the movement's previous work, its recent initiatives will not always center the climate crisis. However, a co-founder explained that these efforts aim to build a society where climate action is achievable.

“To achieve the bold action required to prevent environmental disaster, we’re going to need a country where we have the right to dissent and demonstrate,” she said. “How are we going to succeed in environmental policy under autocratic rule?”

Primary Initiatives

• Student activism to pressure schools to oppose efforts to influence their academic programs and policies around free expression.
• Rapid responses to administration deployments of troops and border measures in cities, and efforts to “restrict our first amendment rights”.
• Educating youth organizers to “identify authoritarianism” and resist it using peaceful methods.

This letter formalizes work already underway at the organization. Last month, the group helped organize campus protests at multiple capital colleges to oppose the use of the national guard and intimidation of activists and immigrants.

Furthermore, local chapters have been engaging in localized struggles for free speech and migrant protections. For example, at a campus chapter, activists have focused on defending a beloved campus bus driver whose temporary protected status was canceled by the federal government, leading to the loss of his job after two decades.

“In order to win a Green New Deal, climate justice, labor justice, racial justice, and more … we’re gonna need to overcome authoritarianism,” said a youth organizer involved with the university chapter, who characterized the current political climate as an “unmatched expression of fascism”.

Future Plans

Future efforts could include countrywide movements to stop immigration enforcement, back local leaders standing up to federal pressure, and actions to resist reductions to medical services. The organization will also prepare for a large-scale youth action on May 1, 2028, coinciding with a call for a general strike.

The refocus arrives following the group captured media attention when its activists stormed the office of a prominent elected official, calling for the swift elimination of oil and gas, the creation of quality employment, and the strengthening of social programs nationwide.

“This climate plan is essential for presenting an alternative world from the one that the administration is portraying,” she said. “We’re going to continue discussing about that, keep fighting for that future, but in the short term, we need to also be confronting ongoing attacks on our neighborhoods and on our freedoms.”

The shift also comes as environmental issues decline somewhat in priority of voter priorities in favor of financial matters, although data shows most people still want to reduce emissions.

“My guess you’re not going to see a lot of politicians using the word ‘climate,’ because people see that as a secondary [concern], not a essential, and right now they’re in the must-have mode,” remarked a previous cabinet official.

Communication Approach

Unlike previous political campaigns that centered on vague ideas of democracy, the movement will focus on the necessity for sweeping reforms, including the removal of corporate interests such as the oil and gas sector from government.

“We’re being very clear that yes, we need to defend rights to expression, [but] we also need to be focused about overhauling our political system so that we are not in a situation where someone like this leader can consolidate power in this kind of way in the future,” said the spokesperson.

This expansion occurs amid an all-out assault from the White House on not only environmental safeguards and progressive organizing. Starting this year, the executive has reversed hundreds of environmental rules and removed incentives for carbon-free technologies.

Moreover, in recent actions have designated certain social movements as “terrorist organizations” and issued a memorandum aimed at controlling what the government calls a radical internal “activist network”.

Recently, the leader also suggested that a prominent donor could face prosecution for unspecified allegations. The movement had previously received funding from foundations linked with the individual.

“We will speak out against this authoritarian abuse of power,” affirmed the lead organizer.

This context is additionally highlighted by recent actions indicating interest in a potential, unconstitutional third term.

“We are just seeing blatant disrespect for our legal freedoms, and we can’t accept that,” concluded the spokesperson.