Join us for a Summer Weekend of Action to defeat I-2117

With the primary behind us, it’s time to move into high gear to defeat 2117. We are spreading the word across the state to make sure people vote NO to protect our air and water, forests and farmland, jobs, and transportation investments.

This summer, the No on 2117 campaign has set an ambitious goal of reaching 70,000 households during their Summer Weekends of Action: August 17-18, August 24-25, and September 7-8. Sign Up Here for a weekend of action flyering event near you! Together, we can reach our coalition’s ambitious goals and defeat I-2117!

STOP THE MONEY PIPELINE

Today in New York, a 63-year-old grandfather and professional cellist, John Mark Rozendaal, was arrested and hit with a criminal contempt charge for performing J.S Bach’s “Suites for ‘Cello” at Citibank’s headquarters.

Confronted with the music of Bach, Citi called NYPD and insisted that they arrest the 63-year-old grandfather performing Bach on his cello.

Send an email to Citi’s top executives now, demanding that they stop targeting climate activists ― and stop funding fossil fuel expansion.

Three weeks ago, John Mark and Stop the Money Pipeline’s Alec Connon were targeted by Citibank’s security team and subjected to an unconstitutional restraining order designed to prevent them from returning to peacefully protest Citi’s funding of fossil fuels at the bank’s headquarters.

They were warned that returning to Citi’s HQ could result in a criminal contempt charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 7 years in jail. Refusing to be intimidated by Citi’s bullying tactics, they announced their intentions to defy Citi’s intimidation tactics and return to the HQ.

As a recently retired music instructor from Princeton University, John Mark’s performance of Bach was beautiful. He was joined at the performance by community leaders, such as New York Councilmember Alexa Avilés, Dr. Sandra Steingraber, and Rev. Chelsea MacMillian.

Yet, Citi felt so threatened that they instructed the NYPD to arrest the cello player.

Even when fourteen people encircled John Mark, the NYPD arrested them so that they could arrest the cello player.

We expect the fourteen who encircled John Mark will be released soon. John Mark and Alec probably won’t be released until much later tonight, or tomorrow morning―but we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure that they are out as soon as possible.

Here are 3 things you can do to keep the pressure up on Citi, right now

Today, we showed Citi that we will not be intimidated. We will not back down, no matter how much they try to intimidate us.

The only way for Citi to make the protests stop is simple: stop financing fossil fuels―help us make sure they get that message loud and clear.

In Solidarity,
- the Stop the Money Pipeline team

THE CAMPAIGN - UPDATE FROM THIRD ACT

The numbers late last month hinted that Harris might struggle to hold onto Biden’s lead with older voters, but you wouldn’t have believed that from our showing last night. Your enthusiasm is helping rewrite the narrative of this campaign and I’m more hopeful than ever that we elders can galvanize our peers. So, let’s share the recording of last night’s event far and wide.

We are going to prove together that older Americans are eager for the future that Kamala Harris represents. When Akaya Windwood shared her story of integrating her public school in the 1960s, it reminded us of how far we’ve come in our lifetimes. But as we face the sneering and divisive figure of Donald Trump, we know how far we still have to go—and how much we could backslide as a nation.

Preventing that means working hard these next weeks, and having lots and lots of conversations with friends and neighbors. Third Act will give you the resources to make those conversations easier: snippets from last night, videos we’re busily producing, analysis, and statistics. But the secret ingredient will be your connections, your relationships, your courage––and above all else––your time and sweat.

Thousands of you already signed up for volunteer shifts and events over the next 90 days. You also helped us surpass our fundraising goal for GrayPAC, Third Act’s newly launched political action committee. All in, we’re closing in on a quarter of a million dollars, with funds from last night being split with the Harris campaign. You can continue to contribute here. Every dollar we raise will help us secure and advance climate protections and justice in our communities.

On the call, Robin Wall Kimmerer asked, “What does it mean to become a good ancestor?” And then answered, “part of it is to lift up new leaders.” We intend to do just that.

Let’s get to work,

Bill McKibben