Demanding 'Transformative' Climate Policy, Sunrise Movement Gears Up for White House Rally

Hundreds of young activists with the Sunrise Movement are set to gather outside the White House Monday to reiterate their demands that Democrats "stop negotiating with a GOP who is not serious about climate action" and include in an infrastructure package a "fully funded and robust" Civilian Climate Corps.

"The people are on our side and they know what's at stake," the climate group tweeted Sunday.

Preparations for the Washington, D.C. rally continue after President Joe Biden appeared Saturday to cave to Republican pressure to not tie a bipartisan infrastructure deal--which rolled back investments in combating the climate crisis--to a Democratic reconciliation bill.

A Saturday tweet from Sunrise puts the rally in the context of the record-shattering heat gripping parts of the country, with some areas in the Northwest facing temperatures as much as 30 degrees above average.

Sunrise is putting forth the same demands to Biden the group delivered earlier this month at a White House action:

• No Compromise, No Excuses. Democrats must take their power seriously and stop negotiating with a GOP who is not serious about climate action or delivering for the American people.
• Meet with the people who elected you. We demand that Biden sets up a meeting with [Sunrise executive director] Varshini Prakash and other youth organizers to hear our demands on infrastructure. Negotiate with us, not the GOP.
• Pass the boldest jobs and climate package with a fully funded Civilian Climate Corps. Coming out of a global pandemic where we are facing massive unemployment and the constant threat of the climate crisis, we need an infrastructure package that includes a CCC that would put over 1.5 million Americans to work in good paying jobs while combating climate change and building a sustainable future for our generation.

The establishment of a CCC is included in the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act, unveiled in April by Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). The lawmakers say the New Deal-inspired effort would create good-paying jobs for 1.5 million people while helping transition the nation to a clean energy economy.

Climate activists with the Sunrise Movement's Generation on Fire campaign have been staging lengthy marches along stretches the country demanding congressional support for the Civilian Climate Corps Act.

Last Monday, a group concluded a 400-mile march from New Orleans to Houston, ending with a demonstration outside the Houston home of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

"We demand federal accountability for the climate crisis," Generation on Fire tweeted Sunday. "We demand bold and transformative policy from Democratic leadership."

"No compromises. No excuses. #NoClimateNoDeal," the group said. "See you tomorrow."