Local youth address the Trial of the Century

To support the groundbreaking Children’s Trust Climate Lawsuit in Eugene on Monday, students from throughout the Gorge, YOU and CGCAN members will participate in a half-hour rally on Sunday October 28 at 3:30 at Overlook Memorial Park (Salmon Waterfall at 2nd and State) in downtown Hood River. We will have signs available for the rally but feel free to bring your own!

From 4 to 5 PM there will be a mock trial in the Hood River City Hall council chambers with various youth from throughout the Gorge including HR Valley High School describing how the Climate Crisis is impacting them and their future. Please plan to attend the rally at 3:30 and then the mock trial from 4 to 5 PM.

We welcome all students and youth up to the age of 22 that wish to speak. Please sign up here, or email peter@gorgefriends for an information packet.

Sponsored by HRV High School Earth Action Club, Friends of the Columbia Gorge and CGCAN

BREAKING NEWS FROM OUR CHILDREN’S TRUST

On Friday, Oct. 19, for the second time in three months, the Department of Justice petitioned the United States Supreme Court to circumvent the ordinary procedures of federal litigation in an attempt to stop the Juliana v. United States case from going to trial.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts yesterday issued an order asking the youth plaintiffs to respond to the government defendants’ petition. The Supreme Court also placed what’s called an “administrative stay” on the litigation, until the Court reviews our response and issues a subsequent order. We are preparing our response right now, and expect to file it on Monday, in hopes that the Supreme Court lifts the administrative stay and that trial proceeds on October 29 as previously scheduled.

We believe this administrative stay on the litigation is only temporary and that once the Court reviews Plaintiffs’ brief, the Court will quickly refer this case back for full trial in the U.S. District Court. It would be unprecedented for the Court to stop the case on the eve of trial when the only harm claimed of by the defendants is monetary.

However, we cannot say for sure what, if any impact this administrative stay will have on the October 29^th trial date, at this time. Trial may still start on October 29, or it may not.

We can say for sure that on October 29th, whether the trial begins on that day or not, WE WILL MOBILIZE! In every state of this country and with all of the youth plaintiffs at the U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon. We will gather with dignity and civility to speak as one voice outside our courts, even if the youth plaintiffs are delayed in speaking inside the court, to bring attention to our unalienable rights under the Constitution, to the critical role of our judiciary, and to demand a climate recovery plan that brings us back from the brink.

Rallying peacefully and respectfully in front of federal courthouses everywhere in support of this case is more important now than ever before. Let us not forget what this case is about. Our own government has known about the harms caused by climate change since as far back as the 1950’s. Despite this knowledge, the government has acted affirmatively and purposefully for decades to create a national energy system that causes climate change. If you are frustrated by the destructive actions taken by our government––a government sworn to protect the rights of our youth and future generations––the time to stand together in solidarity is now! If you are tired of feeling unheard by an administration that thinks itself above the law, the time to stand together in solidarity is now! Democracy, real democracy, requires civic action for a better tomorrow. Actions that leave to our children a world we can be proud of when we look in the mirror. We believe in the democratic process. We believe our court system will see the systemic, constitutional violations these plaintiffs have suffered and choose to remedy them. On October 29th, we will all stand with these 21 youth plaintiffs and show the world that our future is not pre-determined. Please join us to stand with your neighbors and plan our way forward. Toward a future away from climate change. Away from wars and scarcity, and toward a world where we ALL can find a place to raise our families in peace. Thank you for your continuing support. We will provide you with further updates as they develop. In the meantime, please continue to reach out to us with your questions and needs. The #youthvgov solidarity rallies must be more impactful now than ever before! Sincerely, Our Children’s Trust Organizing Team