Climate Demonstration Took Place New Haven Nov. 12
by Alison Huntley, Sunrise New Haven
Climate activists from around New Haven gathered outside City Hall on Nov. 12 for a rally organized by Sunrise New Haven and New Haven Climate Movement to urge Mayor-elect Justin Elicker to act on climate justice.
New Haven Mayor-elect Justin Elicker addresses climate activists.
The Board of Alders recently passed a Climate Emergency Resolution, and Elicker made campaign promises about climate action. The rally was the continuation of a campaign to make sure Elicker and the city follow through on these promises. The rally highlighted multiple issues that encompass climate justice, such as jobs, immigration, and land use.
The rally’s demands included:
- The new Mayor should sign the resolution, which would create a Climate Emergency Task Force.
- The Task Force should act with urgency to aggressively reduce emissions, protect New Haven residents from current and future impacts of climate change, create green jobs, and prioritize just, equitable outcomes, particularly for poor and marginalized communities.
- The Board of Alders should commit at least 0.1% of the budget to these critical climate actions.
- Elicker should do more to pressure Yale to invest in climate action and the New Haven community far more than it currently is.
Mayor-elect Elicker, who attended the rally, said this was the first time he had been a target of a demonstration and that he would take our concerns into account when he starts his term in January.
To learn more about future climate action in the New Haven area, including the upcoming school strike on Dec. 6, follow @sunrisenewhaven or @newhavenclimatemovement on Instagram or go to bit.ly/SunriseNewHaven.