John,

My name is Harlan, I’m 22, and I’m writing to you from Chicago.

Today is strike day! Here in Chicago--and in over 260 cities across the US--thousands of people are walking out of school and work and taking over the streets, statehouses, and city halls to demand that politicians everywhere champion a Green New Deal.

I wish I could be out there striking with them--but I can’t. See, I work at a restaurant as a line cook, and I can’t skip my shift because I just can’t risk losing my job. So instead of striking today, I’m standing with everyone out there who is taking the risk to walk out of school and work by donating an hour’s worth of my wages ($15) to Sunrise.

Will you join me in standing in solidarity with everyone striking today by chipping in to help this movement keep growing?

When I think about the future these days, it often feels scary. I just can’t be sure what the world will look like in 10 or 20 years under the climate crisis.

But in the face of this huge uncertainty, the climate strikes give me hope and make me feel powerful again. When we first went on strike in September, we made headlines around the world. We made politicians pay attention to the climate crisis in a way that they never have before.

Today is another step toward becoming the movement we need to win a Green New Deal. If you can’t be in the streets with us, you can still make the next wave of climate strikes even stronger by chipping in an hour’s wages--or whatever amount you’re able--to support Sunrise’s work.

Help make our generation’s call for a Green New Deal as loud as possible. Join me in chipping in today to support the strikes.

Harlan Lewis

P.S. There’s still time to join the strikes! Come make history with us. Check out the strike map to find out what’s happening near you.