Youth Rally to Demand Menendez Support a Bold Civilian Climate Corps

The activists gathered outside his office today to ask him to co-sponsor the legislation

Jersey City, NJ- Dozens of Sunrise Movement members and supporters gathered today outside Senator Bob Menendez’s office in Jersey City to demand that he co-sponsor the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act. The legislation would create 1.5 million good, green jobs transitioning our society to 100% clean and renewable energy. Those who joined the rally were a part of local Sunrise Movement chapters, as well as supporters from other aligned groups such as the Young Ecosocialists Caucus and Food + Water Watch.

The Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act is a piece of legislation introduced to the US Congress by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York and Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts. It’s a bill based largely off of the Civilian Conservation Corps from the New Deal era, which put hundreds of thousands of young Americans to work building infrastructure and conserving the environment. This new legislation would put 1.5 million people to work doing things such as building green infrastructure, transitioning to renewable energy from fossil fuels, and more.

“We’re joining this coalition to demand Senator Menendez support the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act because we are living in a climate crisis that can only be fought with a transition in the economy,” said Matthew Skolar, chair of the NJ Young Ecosocialists Caucus. “This CCC is a great first step in challenging the status quo, which is currently exacerbating the ecological emergency.”

Many climate activists have said that they recognize the opportunity that has presented itself. Right now, the United States is facing an economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people are out of work, and they need jobs. And the climate crisis is also becoming far more dangerous, with deadly wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, and flooding happening all across the country. There is a need to transition our society to renewable energy in order to avoid the greatest effects of the climate crisis. The Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act would put millions of people to work doing just that, combatting both these crises at the same time.

“I was unable to find a full time job, so I took a low-paying hourly job in the interim,” says Mimi, a resident of Hunterdon County. “After applying to more than 100 jobs I only got two interviews, which finally led to temp work. It took me a full year to get back on my feet, and I had almost every privilege. I can’t imagine the struggles of folks without a college degree or a nest egg of savings.”

This version of the Civilian Climate Corps provides the opportunity for millions of people to have job security and financial stability, something that they would not have without this legislation. It is a bold investment in our future, and it is a necessary one.

Already, 6 members of the US Senate have signed onto the legislation, including Senator Cory Booker from NJ. Additionally, 15 members of the US House have also signed on in support, including Representative Bonnie Watson-Coleman from NJ’s 12th district.

Sunrise Movement will continue to raise awareness and call on members of Congress to co-sponsor the Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act.