Editors’ note: Associate editor Des Barrett assisted in preparing for the rally, and Life Editor Jessica Vanek and photographer Cole Fairchild are members of OCU Sunrise. They were not involved in the writing of this story.
A student-run organization recently led a political rally at the city capital.
On April 7, the OCU hub of the Sunrise Movement hosted a rally at the Oklahoma State Capital called ‘Rally for Good Jobs for All,’ demanding Oklahoma Congresswoman Stephanie Bice to sign onto the Good Jobs For All Pledge. The event was part of a series of Sunrise Movement rallies planned in cities across the country April 7.
Nathan May, music theater junior and hub coordinator, said hundreds of Sunrise Movement members rallied across the country April 7 to demand jobs for all.
“They were calling on members of Congress, the Senate and President Biden to sign this Good Jobs For All pledge which would commit to historic investment to create jobs to fight the climate crisis,” he said.
May said the Good Jobs For All pledge is calling on a federal jobs creation program similar to the original New Deal when former president Franklin D. Roosevelt created the civilian conservation corps and the works progress administration, creating jobs for citizens to build parks and help the economy recover from recession.
“So, this is calling for something similar but even bigger and grander in scale to restore our wetlands, build resilient communities, climate-proof our buildings to become more energy efficient, and stuff like that,” he said.
May said there were about twenty OCU students participating in the rally, as well as some community members, including Oklahoma State Representative Mauree Turner. May said he reached out to Turner and they agreed to speak at the rally.
“They came and spoke to the issues for us, and it was really great to have them there in solidarity with us because many times it can be straining to see how many politicians in Oklahoma are so staunchly bought out by the fossil fuel industry and opposed to any action to protect our future and our present,” he said. “But we do have representatives here in Oklahoma that are fighting that fight, and Mauree Turner is certainly one of them.”
May said a federal commitment to creating sustainable energy could potentially create 25 million jobs.
“To tackle the climate crisis, we need to be creating a ton of jobs to redo our infrastructure to build a more sustainable and resilient country that’s able to be powered by renewable energy,” he said.
May said one of the things that sets the Sunrise Movement apart from other environmental groups is its focus on social justice for people through advocating against climate injustice.
“A lot of the times, and I care about all of the plants and animals so much, but we say ‘oh we have to stop climate change to save the polar bears,’ and what Sunrise movement is doing is saying, no this isn’t about some far off creature that’s endangered, it’s about saving ourself and our people and our working class communities that are directly threatened today by the climate crisis,” he said.
May said he encourages people to not only be aware of what the Sunrise Movement is doing nationally and on campus, but to also get involved in it.
“I’d encourage everyone to find a personal stake in it, to think of the people and places they love and how they’re going to be affected over the next few decades if the climate crisis worsens, and imagine something better,” he said. “Imagine a world where we’re not crippled with anxiety by that, a world where everyone has the right to a job that will not only help them get by, but is also a job that will let them thrive and contribute something good to the planet. To join that movement and get involved and help create that future.”
Maya Ferrer, acting senior and hub coordinator, said the narrative that transitioning to green energy will cost people jobs is a misconception.
“A lot of people will say getting rid of fossil fuels will cost people their jobs, but under the green new deal, those jobs will be replaced with better jobs in safer environments focused in green energy,” she said. “Things like the civilian corp help build national parks, help plant trees, they create hundreds of sustainable jobs, especially for young people, going into a world where there’s not a whole lot for us.”
Ferrer said she loves the Sunrise Movement because it is filled with passionate people and there’s something for everyone who would like to join. She said she knows it can seem daunting to join a movement, but she hopes people will engage with the Sunrise movement on campus because they welcome all types of skillsets.
“Let’s say, if someone wasn’t comfortable attending a protest, they can help us with social media, paint banners, help with outreach and education and training. There’s so much divisions within the movement for people to find their spot and do what they love while continuing to fight for climate justice and fighting for the green new deal,” she said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for young people to get involved in a movement without it being a big scary thing.”
Zoe Dongas, music theater senior, said the rally was a great way for student’s voices to be heard.
“I think it’s really important and exciting that Sunrise held the rally,” she said. “We need to show our local government that we are concerned about these issues. I’m glad Sunrise was able to have Rep. Turner speak as well; it shows that OCU’s movement is gaining traction and legitimacy.”
Dongas said it’s an exciting time for climate advocacy on campus.
“We are so close to the capital, so I hope we as a campus community can continue to push our local government to deal with issues of economic inequality, climate change and systemic racism,” she said.
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