Act This Week to Prioritize Climate Change

and Impacted Communities

by Rev. Anastassia Zinke, Minister

My dear companions,

Tomorrow through Friday, I encourage you to accept the invitation from impacted Indigenous, Brown, Black, and low-income communities living on the frontlines of the climate emergency. Specifically, come join me and them, at 7:30 am in Freedom Plaza, or 8 am outside the White House in pushing the Biden-Harris administration to address the climate crisis.

I was there today and last night. Many of the speakers talked about how the stealing of land from First Nation people and decision-making power and resources from communities of color is directly connected to the imminent climate crisis. These leaders and citizens have come to DC to push for real change. As one DC organizer of color said, “If it took protests in all 50 states, and 27 countries to get justice for one man – George Floyd – what will it take to get justice for our whole planet and each of our communities?” All of us.

If you join us, you will hear what is happening across our country: from fracking sites and oil wells, to pipelines and refineries, to plastic plants, and more. You will be moved with the music, and encouraged with songs and chants.

Today, 155 people were arrested, peacefully, including a delegation of faith leaders from different traditions. If you are welcome to come, whether or not you are willing to risk arrest.

Over the years these earth protectors have written thousands of messages to politicians, attended countless hearings, testified hundreds of times, and have placed their bodies on the line when needed, all the while our government continues to ignore the science and Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge.

Real change happens when we unite, visibility in solidarity. That’s why thousands of people are taking action this week. People are coming to send a powerful message to President Biden: if you’re serious about tackling the climate crisis, you must do everything in your power to stop fossil fuel projects.

Rev. Anastassia