This week should have been the start to the three-year-long landmark youth climate trial against the federal government, deemed the “trial of the century.” Instead, the Supreme Court halted the case in response to a last-ditch effort by the Trump administration to kill the case.
Now the rest of the country is responding to the disgraceful decision. The 21 youth plaintiffs of the case, Juliana v. United States, have been joined by thousands across the country the past several days to “keep our government accountable for the effects of climate change.”
I stand in solidarity with @youthvgov today as they coordinate rallies across the nation to keep our government accountable for the effects of climate change. Find your local rally: https://t.co/gcPsmAx8EP.
— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) October 29, 2018
Nearly 100 events were scheduled on Sunday and Monday across 41 states. The main cities that were host to the largest included San Francisco, New York City, Portland, Washington, DC, Seattle, Colorado Springs and St. Paul.
Rallies and events kicked off yesterday to support the 21 @youthvgov plaintiffs. 92 events are planned across the country – it’s not too late to join and rally in support of the climate #TrialoftheCentury! #youthvgov https://t.co/6UU2fMobGT pic.twitter.com/o5rmWzTCt1
— 350 dot org (@350) October 29, 2018
The central rally took place at the Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon, where the trial was set to take place and attracted a crowd of 1,500, including 500 students that walked out of nearby schools.
HAPPENING NOW: 500 students just arrived after walking out of every high school in Eugene and U of O. Huge spirited crowd of 1500, braving occasional rain as youth perform spoken word.
Tune into the livestream: https://t.co/GM3MdScdPx #youthvgov #LetTheYouthBeHeard @youthvgov
— 350 dot org (@350) October 29, 2018
Hundreds of students and community members attend #LetTheYouthBeHeard rally in Eugene, Ore. in support of the Juliana v. United States climate change Supreme Court case on Oct. 29, 2018. #youthvgov pic.twitter.com/TCZF3ZXovf
— Sarah Northrop (@SARTAKESPICS) October 29, 2018
The three-year-long case has survived countless obstacles. Just this past summer the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the case could proceed, then turned around last week with a change of heart, which many attribute to the recent appointment of new justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“Our constitutional democracy allows us to protect our liberty without declaring independence from our government, so long as those who govern assent to review by our courts and let the facts be told,” Julia Olson, executive director of Our Children’s Trust and co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said in a press release. “These young people deserve that chance to present their case against those who govern and let the light fall where it may.”
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