John -
The progressive Squad on Capitol Hill took another hit with Cori Bush's loss in her primary last week, just a month after Jamaal Bowman's upset. But we're grateful that the community stood tall with climate champion Rashida Tlaib, helping fend off an aggressive AIPAC-funded campaign against her and secure the Democratic nomination.
Rep. Tlaib has been a tireless advocate for climate justice. She joined me for a climate town hall in Detroit during Climate Month earlier this year, where we spoke with residents of the frontline community of Beniteau, Michigan, about the devastating climate impacts they've been dealing with.
The hulking Stellantis car assembly plant looms over Beniteau, where it's been discharging illegal amounts of toxic air pollution.1 Community members spoke at the town hall about how they've been impacted by the pollution, from extreme health issues to the deaths of family members.
Community members also spoke about experiencing utility shutoffs from DTE Energy — one of the country's worst offenders on shutoffs. It shut off customers' power more than 375,000 times over two years while paying $2 billion in dividends to its shareholders2 — and while getting most of its energy from dirty fossil fuels.
Rep. Tlaib sat with community members for two hours, listening to their concerns and offering concrete advice and next steps.
This is the kind of climate leadership we deserve — and we're eager to organize more town halls and other opportunities for frontline communities to meet with their lawmakers and tell them about their climate concerns.
But organizing these kinds of events takes a lot of resources, John, and we can only do it with the support of people like you.
Thank you,
Candice for 350 Action
P.S. RSVP for an info session with Seed The Vote to learn more about how you can help climate champions win this fall.
1 - Planet Detroit
2 - Michigan Public