Al,
For the last 3 months, thousands of people around the country have been demanding the political and media establishment treat climate change like the emergency it is.
But once again, even though the candidates were eager to discuss climate change, half of them didn’t even get a chance to answer a question on climate change. In a debate that lasted close to three hours, climate got only twelve minutes.1
In a few weeks, we have an opportunity to change this and finally get the climate crisis the attention it demands. Members of the Democratic National Committee from every state are coming together August 22-24th to vote on a proposal to host a climate debate so that voters have an opportunity to hear where the candidates stand on the greatest existential threat of our time.
Last night, even though the climate crisis still didn’t get the debate coverage it needs, we made sure the candidates couldn’t ignore it. Right before they took the stage, thousands of us -- young people, black and brown Detroiters, union members -- were rallying right outside. Together, we delivered a message to the candidates: If you want the support of these communities that are the heart of the Democratic Party, you need to make bringing the Green New Deal to cities like Detroit a day one priority.
And in Detroit, this week, the movement that could actually win a Green New Deal is coalescing. Young people, black and brown people on the frontlines of crisis, and organized workers are uniting to fight for a Green New Deal for Detroit and every city. Together we can finish what the New Deal and the Civil Rights movement started: full economic and racial justice, and meaningful work for all.
Last night’s debate was outrageous and disappointing. But the new coalitions that emerged outside of the debate made it clear that something big is happening and we’re shifting the ground under the political and media establishment.
The people are uniting around the Green New Deal. All we have to do now is get the Democratic Party to listen, to follow where their base is already leading by taking the climate crisis seriously and holding a climate debate.
If we can win this vote and get a climate debate, we will have cemented the climate crisis as a top election issue for the first time in US history. If we all join the call, I believe we can make it happen.
Varshini Prakash
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