Right now, our movement is facing the public health emergency that is COVID-19, and we intend to respond accordingly. Face-to-face organizing has been halted across the nation in the interest of public health. All rebels, regardless of geographic location, should practice social distancing for the safety of themselves and others, especially members of at-risk populations. This shift in our activism, from the streets to our bedrooms, may feel demoralizing. We must remember, above all else, that the priority of Extinction Rebellion Youth is the preservation of life. This dedication is what unites us in the face of the climate crisis, and what will provide courage in the face of COVID-19.
As you read this, rebels across the country are planning webinars, trainings, Zoom conferences, and more. We aren’t canceling actions or halting our rebellion for climate justice in the face of COVID-19; we’re pivoting to organize digital actions to ensure the safety of our communities. We are celebrating the community we’ve built across the nation by embracing the power of digital platforms to channel our four demands centered on truth, policy, democracy, and justice.
Our Covid-Safe Campaigns
September Rebellion
September Rebellion was our nation-wide campaign that started in September 2020. The primary objective of the campaign was insisting on environmental justice by centering vulnerable communities in the national conversation around climate change. The three components for this campaign were “Paint the Streets” (chalking, stickering, flyposting, and other forms of artistic civil disobedience), socially-distant Non-Violent Direct Action, and Digital Education. XR Youth US’s Local Groups coordinated guerilla sticker & poster campaigns. Some Local Groups took larger Covid-secure actions, such as Boise Idaho’s sneaker strike. Each Local Group centered its campaign around specific and tangible examples of environmental racism in their area.
