More than sixty people came together at Bernie Milton Pavilion, Ithaca Commons, to support a variety climate justice initiatives including the Ithaca New Deals equity goals, on Friday, March 25.
The Sunrise Movement Ithaca chapter was represented as well as Mothers Out Front and Cornell Climate Justice. Extinction Rebellion was also represented. Although protestors had different reasons for attending, they all stressed the interconnectedness between climate change and other social issues.
Mothers Out FrontMothers who want to fight climate change, and other social justice issues, have formed this organization to provide a better future for their kids. Nora Brown, a member, believes that advocating for climate change stems from her one year old daughter, whom Brown brought to the rally.
Brown stated that we are at a tipping point in the climate and must act quickly if we want to ensure their safety.
Brown stated that she would love to see Ithaca adopt more resilient farming methods to accommodate changing weather. She cited the New York State Senate bill S4722A as an example. The Soil Health Act supports regenerative agricultural practices.
Many activists who attended the rally were proud of the Ithaca Green New Deal progress since it was passed in Ithaca City Common Council. 2019They agreed, but stated they believe that more attention should be paid to equity issues.
Luis Aguirre Torres was the director of sustainability at the City of Ithaca. He used his platform as a speaker to encourage unity in the fight for climate justice within Ithaca.
It is a privilege to be part of this community and to fight for what is right, said Aguirre Torres.
Aguirre Torres, in his remarks towards the end, focused on the potential broader impacts of local climate justice activism, and the importance to spread awareness about climate change among one’s family, friends, and representatives.
Aguirre Torres also spoke about the plans of his office to make the city sustainable, including a plan called Justice50Ithaca Green New Deal will redirect 50% of its economic, social and environmental benefits to Climate Justice Communities. This is done using federal governments Justice40Initiative as a precedent. Justice50 has been supported by many local activists, including Siobhan Hull, Sunrise Ithaca hub coordinator.
Hull stated that one of the main goals of the Ithaca Green New Deal was to share the benefits with all the local community in a manner that reduces inequity. We’re here to remind the Ithaca city government that they promised that and to encourage them to take action.
Hull stated that she wants to see more community involvement in the Ithaca New Deals implementation via public meetings where local residents could participate in its execution.
Other speakers were also present at the rally, including Taili Mogambee, director of Ultimate Reentry Opportunity, a local organization that helps formerly imprisoned individuals rejoin the Ithaca Community, and Christa Naez, director for The Learning Farm. These speakers stressed the importance to build trust between people in order for us to be able to address climate change and other social issues.
Mugambee said that we must invest our minds and hearts in each other. That’s why the premise for my speech was that love conquers all, but also that love also heals as well.
Members of Ithacas Democratic Socialists chapter, including chapter secretary Jane Glaubman and Common Council member Jorge Defendini 22, were also in attendance on Friday and told protesters about the Ithaca DSAs campaign for free TCAT access. According to the Ithaca DSAs WebsiteMore frequent, free buses could reduce carbon emissions by making it less important to drive and more affordable.
Ithaca High School, Cornell University, and Ithaca College had significant student presences at the rally. Kylie Golden Appleton, a Ithaca High School student, said that the rally was a success. Sunrise IthacaShe was the organizer of the rally and shared the information with other Ithaca High School students via the school announcements. Simon Cohen and Illah Jeffreys, Ithaca High School student, also spoke at this rally. Cohen spoke, while Jefferis read a poem she wrote called The 6 Stages of Climate Grief.
I’ve heard a lot about climate burnout, and just feeling really anxious about it. That’s definitely a common theme between me and my fellow high schoolers, Jefferis said. But I wanted to capture that in the poem, as well as feeling empowered and trying to speak out for climate justice.
Congressional CandidatVanessa Fajans Turner Finger Lakes Climate Reality Project Ithaca chapter chairThomas Hirasuna Ph.D.91 stated that they appreciate the student involvement and would like to see more adults involved.
It’s really important that we show up to take messages from impressive young leaders like those who spoke and organized the event yesterday and to affirm our responsibility as decision-makers and leaders who have come before them to lead on action, Fajans-Turner said. This cannot be the primary responsibility of today’s youth. This is not their fault. We must ensure that the world we leave to our children is safe and sustainable.
Ithaca High School students participated in the rally as part of a larger effort to use public protests to show that Ithacans care about climate change.
Eden Lewis, a Ithaca High School student, stated that we are the ones who will be experiencing this crisis. I think that it’s important to center the voices of youth and marginalized communities or those who are being affected by climate change the most.