Photo: Madison Rogers/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Environmental activists gathered at the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday to celebrate one year of protests.
"One year demanding real action every single day," read a whiteboard sign on display at the event.
Since June 5, 2023, Extinction Rebellion — a politically non-partisan movement pushing governments to take action for the environment — has been protesting in front of the State House to demand lawmakers stop allowing new fossil fuel infrastructure projects.
Read More: Extinction Rebellion Activists Disrupt Gov. Healey At Climatetech Summit
They have been joined by various other groups, like Scientist Rebellion, Our Revolution MA, Mothers Out Front, Third Act, 350 Mass, and Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station.
Photo: Madison Rogers/WBZ NewsRadio
“We have born witness to the inaction and hypocrisy from the governor's office, Senate and House of Representatives, as they claim to be climate leaders and followers of the law, which requires a 50% reduction in greenhouse gasses emitted in MA by 2030, all the while allowing new fossil fuel burning projects to proceed,” shared the Extinction Rebellion website.
Read More: Extinction Rebellion Members Arrested During Hanscom Airport Protest
“No new fossil fuel infrastructure!” shouted activists outside of the State House, who were also dancing and enjoying a party to mark the one-year anniversary of this protest.
“There’s a saying that’s like, ‘I don’t want to be part of your revolution if I can’t dance,’” said one activist.
Although their protests may have looked a little more celebratory on Wednesday, the activists still called attention to the pressing environmental concerns at hand.
“Business as usual is going to fail because the problem is so urgent,” said another activist.
Extinction Rebellion has four demands for the U.S. in general: The government must tell the truth by declaring a climate emergency, take immediate action to stop biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025, and create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens' Assembly on climate justice, along with there being a "just transition" that establishes Indigenous sovereignty and remediation for communities suffering from environmental injustice.
WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports.
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