On March 2, the largest civil disobedience for the climate will be happening at the Capitol Power Plant in southeast Washington D.C. People from around the world and across the nation have endorsed the Capitol Climate Action (CCA) and are risking arrest to send an urgent message that’s time to take direct action to stop climate change.
The organizers have put into place an infrastructure to make it as easy as possible for people to get involved.
Here are some ways to get into the loop
1. Trainings and Convergence Center(s): Beginning on February 27 until March 1, non-violence, legal observer and media trainings, along with legal briefings, will be happening through the day from 10am to 10 pm at the Warehouse Theater (located at 1021 7th St NW, Washington DC). In the morning of March 2, they will be at the United Methodist Building (100 Maryland Ave NE, Washington DC). During these trainings you will get briefed on the action. It’s highly recommended that you attend.
2. Text Communications: We’ve started a text loop to message to people in the streets of the Capitol Climate Action, what’s going on as quickly as possible. All you need to do is send a text from your mobile phone to 40404 with the message “follow capitolclimate” (no quotation marks) and you will be in the loop. We’ll be sending messages out throughout the next week. This is a quick and easy way to get info about the CCA.
3. Live blogging and Website: On March 2, we’ll be live blogging with action updates at http://capitolclimateaction.org. Check it regularly. Our website is a wealth of information on training, logistics, communications and continuing updates. Continue to check out it out.
4. Powershift Outreach Groups and CCA Table: CCA organizers will be doing outreach throughout the Powershift weekend. We’ll have a CCA designated table and groups of people moving through the conference with information. Also look for some creative activities promoting the CCA in Powershift.
5. CCA Greeters and Orientation Teams: As you gather at Spirit of Justice park, you will see CCA greeters and orienteers. The greeters will be directing you towards the rally point, handing you copies of our CCA Handbook and helping you gather into orientation groups. The orienteers will be giving quick briefings on the plan for the day and ways in which we are supporting you. Look for orientation groups forming throughout Spirit of Justice Park.
6. CCA March Leaders: We’ll be breaking the overall march into four color coded “contingents” (red, blue, yellow, green). There will be teams of march leaders for each contingent with flags, placards and banners to lead each contingent. They will lead groups down to the plant for the civil disobedience at it’s various gates.
7. Affinity Groups: The CCA organizers are strongly encouraging groups coming together to form affinity groups. In recent history, people have formed affinity groups to resist the war in Vietnam, nuclear power, U.S. wars in Central America and the Middle East and corporate globalization. Affinity groups are groups of 5-20 friends bound together by similar values, tactics and strategies to serve as a support system. They are the basic organizing blocks of our various movements. They can be formed from your group of friends, people you are traveling with or people you meet in the CCA’s weekend trainings. It’s always good to have buddies at an action. Form your affinity group today!
8. When and Where: Gather at 1:00pm on March 2nd, at the Spirit of Justice Park in Washington DC (C St SW & Capitol St SE). It is near the Capitol South Metro, and there will be greeters available to direct people.
Anyone can actively participate in the action and choose not to risk arrest. While nothing is ever guaranteed in an action scenario, we have a very high degree of confidence that this will be a controlled, intentional, safe environment and people will be able to chose their own involvement levels.
We’ve pulled together a tremendously talented and energetic team of people to make history with the Capitol Climate Action. It’s going to be a beautiful thing, don’t miss it.
And don’t forget to “Dress to Impress.”
See you there.
Hey, Great job you folks are doing in organizing this action. Thanks so much!