Yet Sunrise’s tactical repertoire is running up against hard limits. ![]() The other plank of Sunrise’s efforts – mobilising a small army of volunteers to knock doors and make calls for progressive local and Congressional races – has contributed to a rising crop of new electeds loyal to GND-style messaging and legislation. While the GND is demonised by conservative media and shunned by centrist Democrats, many of its core policies receive majority support among the public. Since 2018, Sunrise has effectively popularised and refocused public discourse around the Green New Deal (GND). By tying climate action to economic security and racial justice, Sunrise believes the Green New Deal’s message can call a multiracial, working-class climate coalition into being. Actions like these use multiday trainings which erupt in carefully calibrated protests meant to “ignite moral conflict” between climate action heroes and fossil fuel villains, move public opinion and recruit more members into the organisation. The organisation focuses on direct action and coordinating national media blitzes, most famously their late 2018 sit-in at Nancy Pelosi’s office. Such tactics are Sunrise’s bread and butter. Speeches were made, songs sung many Sunrisers sat down in the road before being dragged away by the police.įor long-time observers, these scenes have become a familiar sight. A few hundred members of the Sunrise Movement had gathered near the White House late last month to protest the Biden administration’s proposed compromise with Republicans on infrastructure legislation, jettisoning most of the climate provisions from an already inadequate bill. “BIDEN YOU COWARD – FIGHT FOR US,” the sign blared. While Sunrise has significant potential, it stands at a remove from the vast majority of people the organisation wishes to mobilise.Many have accused Sunrisers of engaging in pageantry that stands no chance of improving, and perhaps could damage, the prospects for meaningful climate action.The Sunrise group organises protests meant to “ignite moral conflict” between climate action heroes and fossil fuel villains, and move public opinion.Photo: Charles Edward Miller, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Members of the Sunrise Movement display a banner on the Green New Deal at a rally in Chicago, February 2019.
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