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As the present government cracks down on measures on not only environmental policies and progressive organizing, the youth climate justice group, known for championing the sweeping climate legislation, is expanding its goals to resist authoritarianism.

Day by day, the administration is consolidating control and shredding the nation's founding document,” wrote the group's executive director in an open letter. “What ordinary people do in the next few months will decide whether current leaders can solidify control and transform the nation into a playground for the wealthy elite.”

In contrast to most of the movement's past efforts, its newer initiatives will not necessarily focus on the environmental emergency. However, a co-founder clarified that these efforts aim to build a society where environmental progress is achievable.

“To win the bold action needed to avert environmental disaster, we’re going to need a nation where we have the freedom to protest and demonstrate,” she said. “How are we going to win on climate under authoritarianism?”

Key Focus Areas

• Campus organizing to urge universities to resist efforts to control their academic programs and rules around political dissent.
• Rapid responses to administration use of troops and immigration policies in urban areas, and efforts to “restrict our first amendment rights”.
• Training young activists to “recognize authoritarianism” and oppose it using non-violent methods.

The letter formalizes work already in progress at the movement. Last month, the organization helped organize student walkouts at several Washington DC universities to oppose the use of the national guard and harassment of organizers and migrant communities.

Additionally, regional groups have been taking on localized struggles for expression rights and migrant protections. For example, at one university, activists have prioritized defending a respected university employee whose temporary protected status was canceled by the federal government, leading to the loss of his job after 20 years.

“In order to win a Green New Deal, climate justice, labor justice, equality, and more … we’re gonna need to overcome authoritarianism,” stated a student activist involved with the university chapter, who characterized the present political climate as an “unmatched expression of authoritarian rule”.

Upcoming Plans

Planned actions may involve countrywide movements to halt immigration enforcement, back city officials standing up to government overreach, and protests to oppose cuts to medical services. The movement will also prepare for a large-scale student mobilization on May 1, 2028, coinciding with a appeal for a general strike.

The refocus comes years after the movement gained national headlines when its members stormed the office of a leading political figure, calling for the rapid phase-out of oil and gas, the creation of quality employment, and the strengthening of public services across the US.

“The Green New Deal is essential for presenting an alternative vision from the one that current leadership is portraying,” they explained. “We’re going to keep talking about that, keep fighting for that vision, but in the immediate future, we need to address ongoing attacks on our communities and on our freedoms.”

This shift coincides as climate concerns decline somewhat in priority of voter priorities in favor of financial matters, though evidence shows the majority still support to draw down emissions.

“My guess you’re not going to see a lot of politicians using the word ‘climate,’ because people see that as a nice-to-have [concern], not a must-have, and right now they’re in the must-have mode,” commented a previous energy secretary.

Communication Strategy

Unlike previous political campaigns that centered on vague ideas of democracy, the organization will concentrate on the need for major changes, including the exclusion of corporate interests such as the fossil fuel industry from government.

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

The broadening comes amid an all-out assault from the federal government on not only green protections and activist movements. Starting recently, the executive has rolled back hundreds of climate regulations and removed support for clean energy.

Additionally, in recent actions have labeled certain social movements as “terrorist organizations” and issued a directive aimed at controlling what the government calls a radical internal “terror network”.

Last week, the leader also suggested that a prominent donor could face prosecution for unspecified allegations. The organization had previously obtained financial support from foundations associated with the philanthropist.

“We will raise our voices against this autocratic overreach,” affirmed the lead organizer.

The situation is further highlighted by recent moves suggesting plans in a possible, unconstitutional extended tenure.

“We are just seeing blatant disrespect for our legal freedoms, and we can’t accept that,” concluded the spokesperson.