“Give light and people will find the way.” This quote by Ella Baker, civil rights leader and youth activist, sums up the last day of the Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus tour. Baker mentored young civil rights stalwarts like Diane Nash, Stokely Carmichael, Rosa Parks and Bob Moses. Today, she would be proud as the new generation of activists rallied behind the need for clean energy jobs and their right to economic equality in our nation’s capital.
Imagine it. After touring the nation and meeting with young people in urban communities all along the way, the Hip Hop Caucus’ Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour brought its message of clean energy solutions to the steps of the Capitol Building for a closing rally. The event began with music from DJ Biz Markie. His classic beats were heard around the Capitol while hip hop echoed off of our nation’s government buildings. As Biz began, a bus full of Howard University students marched up to the rally with Clean Energy Now! signs and took their place on the stage as one of the nation’s leading universities.
The program began with youth activists, Kari Fulton from EJCC, Liz Starke, student activist from Michigan State University, and William Kellibrew who represented the Black Youth Vote. Together, these students amplified the diversity of today’s youth movement and the importance of a clean energy economy for their future prosperity.
Reverend Yearwood moderated the rally and introduced Administrator Lisa Jackson, who jumped right into the importance of a clean energy economy to protect our air and provide clean water to all communities across the country, especially for young people and future generations. “The tour has been across the country listening to young voices calling for good jobs, lower energy costs and cleaner communities,” said Jackson. “This is the time to seize global leadership in clean energy innovation and answer the young people and urban communities who are asking for clean energy now.” Signs were raised, young people were cheering, and Washington was listening.
Following Administrator Jackson, movement leaders like Gary Flowers, Congressman Andre Carson, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All, and actress Gloria Reuben took the stage to explain how protecting the climate can help us to take back our streets by creating new businesses and regenerating the urban economy. Maggie Fox, CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection, amplified the importance of showing the diversity of this movement to Washington. “It is clear that our young people and communities of color will benefit greatly from the economic opportunities that come from investing in clean energy,” said Fox.
Today, the message was clear in Washington. WE MUST ACT NOW! The clean energy movement is about taking control of our future and bringing opportunity to our communities. Millions of our friends and neighbors are out of work. Washington has the opportunity to create 1.9 million new jobs and rebuild our economy from the ground up by making a commitment to clean energy here in America. The Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour was a light that illuminated monumental economic opportunity across the country. So, hats off to our civil rights predecessors, it is now our turn to carry the torch towards a victory in Washington.
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