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While the current government cracks down on measures on not only climate policies and progressive movements, the Sunrise Movement, famous for popularizing the sweeping climate legislation, is expanding its goals to confront autocratic governance.

Day by day, the administration is consolidating control and undermining the nation's founding document,” wrote the organization's executive director in a public message. “What ordinary people do in the coming months will decide whether current leaders can solidify control and transform the nation into a playground for the wealthy elite.”

Unlike the majority of the movement's past efforts, its recent initiatives will not necessarily focus on the climate crisis. But, a co-founder explained that these efforts aim to build a world where climate action 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 freedom to protest and demonstrate,” they noted. “How can we succeed in environmental policy amid autocratic rule?”

Key Initiatives

• Campus organizing to pressure schools to oppose attempts to influence their curricula and rules around free expression.
• Rapid responses to administration deployments of military forces and border measures in cities, and efforts to “infringe on our freedom of speech”.
• Training youth organizers to “recognize authoritarianism” and resist it using peaceful methods.

This missive formalizes work already in progress at the movement. Last month, the organization helped organize campus protests at several Washington DC universities to oppose the deployment of the national guard and intimidation of organizers and migrant communities.

Furthermore, regional groups have been taking on localized fights for expression rights and immigrant rights. For example, at one university, organizers have prioritized protecting a respected campus bus driver whose immigration status was revoked by the administration, leading to the termination after two decades.

“In order to achieve a climate and jobs plan, climate justice, workers' rights, racial justice, etc … we’re gonna need to overcome authoritarianism,” stated a student activist involved with the campus chapter, who described the present political climate as an “unmatched expression of fascism”.

Future Plans

Planned efforts could include nationwide movements to stop immigration enforcement, support local leaders resisting government overreach, and protests to resist reductions to healthcare programs. The organization will also build toward a mass youth action on 1 May 2028, aligning with a appeal for a national work stoppage.

The refocus arrives following the movement captured media attention when its members stormed the headquarters of a prominent elected official, calling for the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, the creation of quality employment, and the strengthening of public services across the US.

“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 keep talking about that, keep fighting for that vision, but in the immediate future, we need to address their assault on our communities and on our freedoms.”

This change also comes as environmental issues slip slightly down the list of voter priorities in compared to economic issues, though evidence shows most people still support to draw down emissions.

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

Communication Approach

In contrast to past political campaigns that focused on abstract concepts of governance, the organization will concentrate on the necessity for sweeping reforms, including the exclusion of corporate interests such as the oil and gas sector from politics.

“We’re being very clear that yes, we need to protect freedoms to expression, [but] we also need to be serious about overhauling our democracy so that we are not in a position where someone like this president can consolidate power in this manner in the future,” stated the co-founder.

This broadening occurs amid an comprehensive attack from the federal government on not only green protections and activist movements. Since this year, the president has reversed numerous of environmental rules and eliminated support for clean energy.

Additionally, recent actions have labeled certain activist groups as “threats to security” and released a memorandum aimed at reining in what the government calls a extreme internal “terror network”.

Recently, the president also implied that a prominent philanthropist could face legal action for unspecified allegations. The organization had previously received financial support from philanthropic groups associated with the philanthropist.

“We will raise our voices against this authoritarian overreach,” declared the executive director.

The situation is further emphasized by latest moves suggesting plans in a potential, unconstitutional third term.

“We are simply seeing outright disregard for our constitutional rights, and we can’t accept that,” stated the co-founder.