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As the current government intensifies measures on not only climate regulations and progressive organizing, the youth climate justice group, famous for championing the sweeping climate legislation, is broadening its mission to resist autocratic governance.

“Every day, federal leadership is consolidating control and shredding the nation's founding document,” wrote the organization's lead organizer in a public message. “What everyday citizens do in the coming months will decide whether those in power can cement their grip and turn this country into a exclusive domain for the wealthy elite.”

In contrast to most of the movement's past efforts, its newer projects will not always focus on the environmental emergency. But, a spokesperson clarified that these efforts aim to build a society where environmental progress is achievable.

“To achieve the sweeping changes needed to prevent climate catastrophe, we’re going to need a nation where we have the freedom to dissent and protest,” she said. “How can we succeed in environmental policy under autocratic rule?”

Primary Initiatives

• Student activism to pressure universities to resist attempts to control their academic programs and policies around political dissent.
• Quick mobilization to government deployments of troops and border measures in cities, and efforts to “restrict our first amendment rights”.
• Training youth organizers to “recognize authoritarianism” and resist it using non-violent tactics.

This letter officializes work already underway at the movement. Recently, the group helped organize campus protests at several capital colleges to oppose the use of the military reserves and harassment of activists and immigrants.

Furthermore, local chapters have been engaging in community-based struggles for free speech and immigrant rights. For example, at a campus chapter, activists have focused on protecting a beloved university employee whose temporary protected status was revoked by the federal government, leading to the termination after two decades.

“In order to achieve a climate and jobs plan, climate justice, labor justice, racial justice, and more … we’re gonna need to overcome autocratic governance,” stated a youth organizer involved with the campus chapter, who characterized the present political climate as an “unmatched manifestation of authoritarian rule”.

Upcoming Plans

Planned actions could include nationwide campaigns to stop immigration enforcement, support local leaders standing up to government overreach, and actions to oppose cuts to healthcare programs. The movement will also build toward a mass student mobilization on 1 May 2028, coinciding with a appeal for a national work stoppage.

The refocus comes years after the movement gained national headlines when its activists occupied the headquarters of a leading elected official, calling for the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, the establishment of quality employment, and the strengthening of social programs nationwide.

“This climate plan is critical for laying out an different world from the one that current leadership is portraying,” they explained. “We’re going to keep talking about that, continue advocating for that future, but in the immediate future, we need to address ongoing attacks on our communities and on our rights.”

The change also comes as climate concerns decline somewhat in priority of electoral concerns in compared to financial matters, although data indicates most people still want to reduce emissions.

“I suspect you’re not going to see a lot of politicians using the word ‘environment,’ because people see that as a secondary [concern], not a must-have, and right now they’re in the must-have mode,” commented a former energy secretary.

Messaging Strategy

Unlike previous electoral efforts that focused on vague ideas of democracy, the movement will focus on the necessity for major changes, including the exclusion of corporate interests such as the fossil fuel industry from politics.

“We’re being explicit that certainly, we need to protect rights to expression, [but] we also need to be focused about reforming our political system so that we are not in a situation where a leader like the current leader can amass control in this manner in the future,” stated the co-founder.

This broadening comes amid an comprehensive attack from the federal government on both environmental safeguards and progressive organizing. Starting recently, the president has reversed hundreds of environmental rules and removed support for carbon-free technologies.

Moreover, recent actions have labeled certain social movements as “threats to security” and released a directive aimed at controlling what the government calls a extreme internal “activist network”.

Recently, the leader also suggested that a prominent donor could face legal action for unstated charges. The movement had previously received funding from philanthropic groups associated with the philanthropist.

“We will raise our voices against this autocratic abuse of power,” declared the lead organizer.

This situation is further highlighted by recent actions indicating interest in a possible, unconstitutional extended tenure.

“We are simply seeing blatant disrespect for our constitutional rights, and we can’t accept that,” concluded the spokesperson.