For Immediate Release: September 8, 2018
Contact: Miranda Ehrlich, miranda.ehrlich@sierraclub.org, 612-998-2758
Hundreds Rally and March in Milwaukee for Climate, Jobs, and Justice
Over 50 Organizations Host Milwaukee’s Peoples Climate Day of Action
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Hundreds of Southeast Wisconsin residents gathered in Zeidler Union Square Saturday afternoon for a rally and march as a part of the Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice movement organized by the Peoples Climate Movement.
Just two months before the midterm elections, Southeast Wisconsin residents joined people from across the country and around the world in taking to the streets to demand bold action on climate change. Over 50 organizations partnered on the Milwaukee event, making it one of the largest coalitions in the United States to host a Rise for Climate event. The event highlighted many local issues that are connected to the themes of climate, jobs and justice. Milwaukee’s event is one of more than 100 across the country and world where community members are rising for climate, jobs and justice.
“It is said in Ojibwa tradition, that when the water turns to poison, and you can no longer eat the fish, a new people will emerge, and will have a choice between two paths. One is sustainable, and one is not,” explained Art Shegonee, a Native American Ambassador to Wisconsin Indian Summer and Call for Peace Drum and Dance Company, who opened the rally. After his opening, the event proceeded with speakers highlighting local issues, including the need for more clean energy and clean energy jobs, impacts of the Oak Creek coal plants, a lack of transit access and more.
“I live at the Eco-Justice Center, just 2 miles south of the We Energies Oak Creek coal plants. We are concerned about the health effects of the toxins that are being scattered all around, especially onto the property and into the lungs of local residents. Switching to 100% clean, renewable energy would provide jobs for thousands of people, reduce emissions, and improve the health of the people and the planet,” said Sister Janet Weyker of the Racine Dominicans as she expressed her concern about We Energies’ plans to continue burning coal.
Reverend Marilyn Miller, President of the Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), commented, "It is important that people in all of Wisconsin's cities, suburbs and rural areas have access to life-affirming transportation. We cannot rest until the transportation system across this state meets the needs of the people. Everything is connected: climate, jobs, and justice. Transit is a critical component of all three."
Partners of the event were wide-ranging and broad. They including environmental groups, labor unions, faith groups, activist networks, social-justice groups and more. Huda Alkaff, a rally speaker and the founder and director of Wisconsin Green Muslims, stated, “I believe that people of faith have a great responsibility to stand up for environmental and climate justice, and to address the concerns and calamities of the poor and marginalized communities. These communities have the lowest ecological footprints, yet they are most impacted by natural and unnatural disasters, and many suffer from climate change induced displacements and migration. It is a moral issue. The Muslim voice and the interfaith voice standing united for environmental justice and care of Earth are instrumental for mobilizing the faithful for the common good.”
As the rally wrapped up, participants were reminded that the work must continue beyond the event. There were calls to join local campaigns, call their leaders, vote, and more. Then, the group marched to Milwaukee City Hall, calling for local leadership.
“Now it’s time for Milwaukee to take a step toward a better future with local clean energy and local jobs. We need Milwaukee to chart a path to 100% clean energy with a jobs plan that ensures the economic benefits help the economically distressed neighborhoods that need it most. Clean energy can help solve the climate and economic crisis the city is facing,” stated Ted Kraig of Citizen Action. “The city has embarked on a number of great renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, giving us an even greater opportunity to come together for a bigger, more aggressive approach,” Kraig concluded.
Assembly Rep. Greta Neubauer said she was optimistic about the outcome of the march and the broader mobilisation. “For decades, fossil fuel industry CEOs have known, and lied, about the reality of climate change. The injustices we have seen inflicted on the most vulnerable, primarily poor people and people of color, through the extraction of fossil fuels will be magnified 100-fold as climate change accelerates. This issue at times feels completely overwhelming, but the good news is, it is entirely within our control. This moment will require all of us, at every level. But I believe we can do it.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice
People in more than 89 countries will take part in over 730 actions to demonstrate the urgency of the climate crisis and call for real climate action in hundreds of creative actions taking place ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit. The Summit has invited every mayor, governor, and local leader in the world to make a bold climate commitment to help the world reach the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
For a complete list of Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice events, visit: https://riseforclimate.org/. Other events in Wisconsin were held in Platteville, Madison, Monona, Appleton, Minocqua, Wauwatosa, and more!
Full list of the Milwaukee People’s Climate March and Rally Partners:
350-Milwaukee, 350 Stevens Point, Black Leaders Organizing Communities, Bublr Bikes, Casa Maria Catholic Workers, Catholics for Peace and Justice, Citizens' Climate Lobby - Racine/Kenosha, Citizen Action, Citizens Acting for Rail Safety (CARS)- Watertown, Clean Air Moms Action-Wisconsin, Congregations United to Serve Humanity (CUSH), Cream City Conservation, Democratic Socialists of America, Eco Justice Center, First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee- Earth Justice Ministry, Friends of Milwaukee’s Downtown Forest, Gaia Coalition Network, Grassroots Northshore, Grassroots Southshore, Grassroots Tosa, Greater Milwaukee Green Party, Green Party Wisconsin, Interfaith Earth Network, Milwaukee DSA, Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA), Milwaukee Water Commons, NextGen America, Organizing for Action, Our Wisconsin Revolution-Milwaukee, PDA Milwaukee, Peace Action Wisconsin, Racine Interfaith Coalition (RIC), Rid Racism Milwaukee, SE WI NORML, Sierra Club, Stewards of Prophetic Hopeful Intentional Action (SOPHIA), Students Allied for a Green Earth (SAGE), Sunrise Movement SE Wisconsin, Tax March Wisconsin, United Nations Association, UW Waukesha Ecology Club, WAVE-Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, Victory Garden Initiative, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, Water Protectors of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba, Wisconsin Education Association Council, Region 7, Wisconsin Green Muslims, Wisconsin Interfaith Power and Light, Wisconsin Poor People's Campaign, WISDOM, Working Families Party