On September 19 at 4:00 p.m., youth organizers with climate justice organization Sunrise Movement and local community groups will hold a march and a rally outside Rep. Cawthorn’s Waynesville district office, demanding that he pass a fully funded Civilian Climate Corps and invest boldly in public housing, schools, transit and renewable energy.
The actions will follow flood recovery relief efforts with community group We Are WNC earlier in the day from noon-3:00PM in Cruso, a rural community that was devastated by recent flooding. The events are part of a national day of action pressuring Congress to pass a massive infrastructure package with historic investments in climate and jobs to rebuild the economy.
WHAT: March and Rally at Rep. Cawthorn’s Waynesville district office
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 19th, 4-5:30 PM
WHERE: 285 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786
WHO: Members of the youth climate justice organization, Sunrise Movement, from Asheville and UNC-Asheville, Western Carolina University students, community group We Are WNC dedicated to recent Haywood County flooding relief.
Attendance from over 100 people across NC-11 are expected to attend.
VISUALS: Banners that say “OUR HOMES FLOOD, CAWTHORN ABANDONS US” and “OUR FUTURE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE,” hand signs with the messages “CAWTHORN: FACE THE CRISIS” “A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE” “PASS A BOLD CCC” and “WE WON’T FORGET THIS.”
There will also be a chalk mural on the sidewalk.
WHY: In August our district was devastated by catastrophic flooding from Tropical Storm Fred, and the only homes folks have ever known washed away. Rural communities in Cruso and Canton were hit the hardest, and it will be a long term recovery.
Meanwhile, next week Congress could pass historic and necessary investments Appalachia needs in the budget reconciliation package that would include funding for programs like a Civilian Climate Corps: a jobs program dedicated to green infrastructure and helping communities recover from climate disasters.
We demand that Cawthorn faces the climate crisis and chooses working people over corporations and the wealthy few.
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