Maine groups join Sanders, Pressley in launch of regional Green New Deal

Grassroots progressive groups in Maine joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Congressmembers Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Sunrise Movement co-founder Varshini Prakash on Tuesday evening for the online kick off of Renew New England, a campaign to push the key policy goals of the Green New Deal in the state houses of New England.

Over a thousand people from across the region participated in the campaign launch, which outlined a policy framework that includes a jobs guarantee as its centerpiece. The campaign endorsed over 100 state lawmakers and candidates in New England committed to pushing for a rapid decarbonization with a just transition, universal healthcare, affordable housing, tribal sovereignty and an end to mass incarceration, over-policing and the militarization of law enforcement.

The federal lawmakers involved in the campaign stressed the importance of acting locally to build momentum for policies bold enough to address climate devastation, the global COVID-19 pandemic, mass unemployment, and the over-policing and incarceration of Black and brown communities.

“You are pushing the boundaries. You are helping us build toward not just a dream, but what is possible,” Pressley told the participants. “Every transformative change that has occurred in this country has been the beneficiary of movements like the one that you are building right now.”

Read more: https://mainebeacon.com/maine-groups-join-sanders-pressley-in-launch-of-regional-green-new-deal/