10,000 Young, Forgotten Obama Voters Urge President to Dream Bigger on Clean Energy
Media Advisory: March 31, 2011
Contact: Blair Fitzgibbon, 202.503.6141
Demand President Stand up to Big Polluters, Refuse Their Campaign Contributions and Protect America's Public Health
Protest in front of the Chamber of Commerce to Follow White House Rally
Washington, DC – More than 10,000 young, forgotten Obama Voters, many of whom worked on the campaign, will converge on Washington next month at Power Shift 2011 to demand that the President dream bigger on energy solutions. Responding to the President’s speech at Georgetown, the young activists are urging President Obama and Congress cut ties with Big Polluters, eliminate taxpayer handouts for them, refuse their campaign contributions and protect the Clean Air Act.
On Monday, April 18th, thousands of these young leaders will deliver their message to the President at a rally in front of the White House. They will then move on to protest at the Chamber of Commerce, which continues to force through the Big Polluter agenda, followed by visits to hundreds of Congressional offices to demand that Congress protect the Clean Air Act and stop taking money from corporate polluters.
Courtney Hight, former Obama Campaign Staffer and Co-Director of the Energy Action Coalition, the organization which is mobilizing Power Shift, said, “I traveled to over six states for President Obama during the 2008 election. I want the President that I campaigned for to show up. It’s time for the leader of the free world to stand up to Big Polluters and protect the public health of the American people."
From spearheading revolution in the Middle East to working to get President Obama elected in 2008, the Millennial Generation has been inventing and implementing groundbreaking social media and online tools and tactics to fuel social and environmental change and fight back against government corruption.
In the wake of Japan’s nuclear disaster, they are calling on the Obama Administration and Congress to stand up to big polluters and advance a 100% clean energy economy. Young voters are building a movement powerful enough to counter big corporate interests and make sure that the Obama Administration fulfills its promises to lead on clean energy.
On April 15, 2011, 10,000 young leaders will come together for four days at Power Shift 2011 -- an historic summit where young people will:
- Engage in the largest grassroots organizing training in history;
- Hear from top movement leaders and experts like Van Jones, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and more; and
- Take action on Tax Day to ensure that Big Polluters Pay and invest in their future.
In advance of Power Shift 2011, thousands of young people are calling on President Obama to stand strong and protect America's public health by defending the Clean Air Act and making big polluters pay their fair share. It is a national call-to-action.
Media can RSVP for Power Shift 2011 by emailing media@powershift2011.org.
Power Shift is hosted by the Energy Action Coalition, a coalition of 50 youth-led environmental and social justice organizations.
WHO: 10,000 Young, Forgotten Obama Voters Converge in Washington for Largest Environmental Training in History
WHAT: Power Shift 2011
WHERE: Washington, DC Convention Center
WHEN: April 15-18, 2011