CW: Police violence
John –
Last week, climate activists from 350.org, local chapters from Portland, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, and Honor the Earth joined up as part of a delegation to learn from on-the-ground organizers about their work to stop Cop City and defend the Weelaunee Forest. We also learned about their efforts to honor the life of Tortuguita – an Indigenous queer Venezuelan activist and forest defender who was shot and killed by police during a SWAT raid of the defenders’ camp.
On the ground in Atlanta
Evan Fritz, 350CT; Jeff Ordower, 350.org; Krystal Two Bulls, Honor the Earth; Lisa Demaine, 350 New Hampshire; Eloise Navarro, 350 PDX; Skyler Bouyer, Honor the Earth Youth Organizer
In the week since, our delegation members have been reflecting on their experience in Atlanta and we wanted to share some of their powerful words with you here:
“Spending time in Atlanta with folks from the Stop Cop City movement has illuminated the incredible power of decentralized organizing rooted in care and community. As we had conversations with organizers of varying perspectives and movement strategies, it became clear that it is our responsibility as climate justice groups not to be involved only because a forest could be demolished, but because regardless of where Cop City (or any police development project) is built, it will poison the places we call home. Whether our “home” is the forest, urban spaces, community gathering places, or where we live, it is worth fighting for. We can undoubtedly support Atlanta through mobilization, organizing, policy support, and donations. But from the energy I felt during our conversations with those on the ground, I found there is another way we can show up in addition to these things. We can look internally to dismantle ways we participate in policing and punishment within our relationships to move toward more healing and restorative connections. Cop City must never be built anywhere, and our fight must include culture-shifting work that starts with us.”
– Eloise Navarro, National Fossil Fuels organizer at 350PDX (Portland)
We hope this moving statement from one of our delegation members leaves you inspired to take action and join us in speaking out against Cop City and supporting forest defenders in Atlanta.
This week is especially important in the fight to #StopCopCity. Today kicks off the Week of Action – a mass mobilization happening on the ground in Atlanta, ending on March 11. For more information on key events taking place and other important details, you can click here to learn more.
Can’t make it to Atlanta? That’s okay! We need as many supporters in this fight as possible and there is no shortage of ways for you to get involved from home, including:
The mobilization to #StopCopCity rests at the intersection of climate justice, racial justice, and social justice. It’s a call from frontline communities in Atlanta to not only protect the Weelaunee Forest but also to stand in solidarity with communities of color who suffer the daily impact of police brutality and corruption at the hands of the institution of the police.
As a movement for climate justice, we stand in solidarity with the movement calling to defund the police and redirect resources to community safety – and we hope you will join us.
Together,
Jeff Ordower, Team 350
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PO Box 843004, Boston, MA 02284-3004
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