Sunrise Movement and Progressive Groups Protest at Senator Sinema’s Private Fundraiser For Failing Them

Washington, D.C. – Following the delay of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, aka the Exxon bill, progressive coalition partners and Sunrise Tempe protested at Senator Sinema’s private fundraiser, demanding that she pass at least a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package and climate provisions that meet the scale and scope of the climate crisis. Instead of staying in D.C. this past weekend to fight for a bold climate and jobs package, Sinema left D.C. to host a corporate fundraiser in Phoenix.  

“Senator Sinema did the unthinkable — instead of working to pass a climate and jobs package that will save and uplift millions from economic and climate insecurity and the climate crisis, she held a corporate fundraiser. And as she makes promises to circumvent our democracy, Arizonans are suffering from a deadly drought killing frontline communities,” said Varshini Prakash, Sunrise Movement Executive Director. 

“As we face record drought and extreme heat waves killing our communities, Senator Sinema is at a resort catering to fossil fuel lobbyists and executives at a fundraiser. She spent the weekend talking to her donors while her constituents were outside in the blaring heat, pleading to talk to her. It is inexcusable that Senator Sinema is ignoring Arizonans' need for a $3.5 trillion investment in climate and jobs. We need bold investment in climate, jobs, healthcare, and education with pathways to citizenship. That’s why we showed up this weekend, to demand that she listen to us, her constituents and those who are on the front lines of these crises,” said Casey Clowes, Sunrise Tempe co-coordinator. 

This action in Phoenix, AZ targeting Senator Sinema comes at a time when she has diverged from her constituent needs and voiced she will not support a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, finding the delay of passing the Exxon bill to be “inexcusable” and “deeply frustrating.” Previously, Sunrise Tempe has held protests at Sinema’s office, demanding that she take the climate crisis seriously and pass the climate and jobs package. 

Sunrise is pushing for a number of priorities in reconciliation, specifically, a fully funded Civilian Climate Corps, investments in public transit, housing, schools, and renewable energy. All of these investments  – including the Green New Deal for Public Schools, the Green New Deal for Public Housing, and more – are needed to transform our economy while combating the climate crisis and creating millions of good jobs in the process. 
 

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The Sunrise Movement is a youth movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. We unite to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people. Most recently, the Sunrise Movement contributed to the election of Senator-elects Ossoff and Warnock by mobilizing thousands of young people in Georgia.