🌎 This Earth Day, I Believe Bernie Sanders Has Our Back on Climate Change
In an op-ed, climate activist and hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatle Martinez explains why he supports Bernie Sanderss 2020 campaign.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
APRIL 22, 2019 1:03 PM
Excerpts:
In the scramble for Democratic presidential hopefuls to hop on the sustainability train, the guy whos been there all along remains the top choice for my generation. Unlike most politicians, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has created a political space that authentically includes and respects the voices and participation of young people. He doesnt treat us like our opinions and our work are less valuable because we havent lived as long, or write us off like most politicians because we dont vote at as high a rate as our elders.
In December of last year, Sanders invited me to speak at a town hall called Solving the Climate Crisis. A panel of Sanders, environmentalist and author Bill McKibben, actress and activist Shailene Woodley, and CNN commentator Van Jones welcomed panelists like myself and then-Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to break down the climate solutions our nation needs. When it came time to introduce me, Sanders said, Of all of the generations out there who are helping us to lead the fight against climate change, it is clear that it is the young people who are in the forefront. He gets it.
Recently, Bernie 2020s organizing department brought on Becca Rast and Yong Jung Cho as National Field Director and Constituency Organizing Director, two powerful leaders in campus organizing for divestment from fossil fuels. These were the students that helped launch this powerful movement that has successfully moved more than 1,000 institutions managing $8 trillion in wealth away from fossil fuels and pushed more than 58,000 individual people to divest from fossil fuels.
Now were taking our fight to the courts, where I and 20 other young people are suing the US government for knowingly contributing to our climate crisis for over 50 years. If we win, it will force the US government to enact a climate recovery plan. Sanders has our back on this one, too.
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/climate-activist-xiuhtezcatl-martinez-earth-day-op-ed-bernie-sanders-climate-change/amp