🔗 Share this article

While the present government cracks down on measures on both climate regulations and activist organizing, the Sunrise Movement, famous for popularizing the sweeping climate legislation, is expanding its mission to confront authoritarianism.

“Every day, federal leadership is consolidating control and shredding the nation's founding document,” wrote the organization's executive director in a public message. “What everyday citizens do in the coming months will determine whether those in power can solidify control and turn this country into a playground for the rich and powerful.”

Unlike the majority of the group's previous efforts, its recent initiatives will not always focus on the environmental emergency. However, a co-founder explained that these efforts aim to create a society where environmental progress is achievable.

“In order to achieve the sweeping changes needed to prevent climate catastrophe, we’re going to need a nation where we have the right to protest and protest,” they noted. “How are we going to win on climate amid autocratic rule?”

Primary Focus Areas

• Student activism to urge schools to oppose efforts to control their academic programs and rules around free expression.
• Rapid responses to government deployments of military forces and border measures in urban areas, and attempts to “infringe on our freedom of speech”.
• Training young activists to “recognize autocratic tactics” and resist it using peaceful methods.

This missive formalizes efforts already underway at the movement. Recently, the organization supported campus protests at multiple Washington DC colleges to protest the use of the national guard and harassment of activists and migrant communities.

Furthermore, local chapters have been taking on community-based struggles for expression rights and migrant protections. For example, at a campus chapter, activists have prioritized defending a beloved university employee whose temporary protected status was canceled by the administration, causing the termination after two decades.

“In order to win a climate and jobs plan, environmental equity, workers' rights, racial justice, and more … we’re gonna need to defeat authoritarianism,” stated a student activist participating with the university chapter, who described the current situation as an “unprecedented expression of fascism”.

Future Initiatives

Future actions could include countrywide movements to halt federal raids, support local leaders standing up to federal pressure, and actions to oppose cuts to healthcare programs. The organization will also prepare for a mass student mobilization on 1 May 2028, coinciding with a call for a general strike.

The shift arrives following the group captured national headlines when its activists occupied the headquarters of a prominent elected official, calling for the rapid phase-out of oil and gas, the establishment of quality employment, and the strengthening of public services nationwide.

“The Green New Deal is critical for laying out an different world from the one that the administration is promoting,” they explained. “We’re going to continue discussing about that, continue advocating for that future, but in the immediate future, we need to also be confronting ongoing attacks on our neighborhoods and on our freedoms.”

The shift also comes as climate concerns slip slightly in priority of voter priorities in favor of financial matters, although data shows most people still support to reduce emissions.

“My guess you’re not going to see a lot of elected officials using the word ‘climate,’ because people see that as a nice-to-have [concern], not a must-have, and right now they’re in the must-have mode,” remarked a former energy secretary.

Communication Strategy

In contrast to previous electoral efforts that centered on vague concepts of governance, the movement will focus on the need for major changes, including the exclusion of business influence such as the oil and gas sector from politics.

“We’re being very clear that certainly, we need to defend freedoms to free speech, [but] we also need to be focused about reforming our political system so that we are not in a position where someone like this president can amass control in this manner ever again,” said the co-founder.

This expansion occurs during an all-out assault from the White House on both environmental safeguards and progressive organizing. Since recently, the president has rolled back hundreds of environmental rules and removed incentives for clean energy.

Additionally, in recent actions have labeled certain activist groups as “terrorist organizations” and released a directive aimed at reining in what the government calls a extreme domestic “terror network”.

Last week, the leader also implied that a well-known philanthropist could face prosecution for unstated charges. The organization had previously obtained financial support from philanthropic groups linked with the philanthropist.

“We will raise our voices against this autocratic abuse of power,” affirmed the lead organizer.

The situation is additionally emphasized by latest actions indicating plans in a possible, legally questionable extended tenure.

“We are just seeing blatant disrespect for our constitutional rights, and we must oppose that,” stated the spokesperson.