If President-elect Donald Trump thought he would be able to steamroll the American people and appoint any science-denying white dude he wanted to his cabinet, then the people just proved him wrong.
Yesterday, thousands of people across all 50 states took action as part of the #DayAgainstDenial, demanding the Senate reject Trump’s nominations to lead the Departments of State, Energy, Interior, and the EPA — all of whom reject basic climate science. Already these demonstrations are having an impact: at least one Senate office said this was the largest meeting with voters they’ve ever had.
Take a look at these scenes from the people-powered movement to resist Trump.
#RejectRex: No Exxon CEO for Secretary of State
Rex Tillerson — the CEO of the world’s largest oil company and Trump’s choice for Secretary of State — was the main target of many of yesterday’s actions.
And with good reason. Under Tillerson, Exxon has partnered with authoritarian regimes to drill for oil all over the world and spent $27 million in 2015 alone to block climate action. As Secretary of State, Tillerson would pave the way for Exxon to drill in the Arctic — partnering with state-run Russian oil company Rosneft — and represent the United States in international climate negotiations around the Paris agreement.
Nominating the CEO of Exxon for Secretary of State reveals just how desperate the oil industry really is. https://t.co/tahfoaTtYo #RejectRex pic.twitter.com/qIFFfHkcgP
— Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) January 9, 2017
Tillerson takes the Senate floor tomorrow, where he’ll try to argue that he’s the right fit for Secretary of State.
DC friends bringing the message directly to the @StateDept: #RejectREX! #DayAgainstDenial pic.twitter.com/TokWLhDw9y
— Maria Langholz (@MariaLangholz) January 10, 2017
San Francisco #DayAgainstDenial Call on Senator Feinstein to #rejectREX pic.twitter.com/PlepH4jZ2x
— Antonia Juhasz (@AntoniaJuhasz) January 10, 2017
The CEO of Exxon takes the Senate floor TOMORROW for his Sec. of State hearing — tell your senators to #RejectRex today! Call 855-636-8150. pic.twitter.com/D7MwiCAPkN
— Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) January 10, 2017
But Rex Tillerson isn’t the only roadblock to climate action Trump is trying place in his cabinet. There’s also EPA nominee Scott Pruitt, who’s spent most of his career suing the very agency he’s been tapped to lead; Energy Secretary nominee Rick Perry, better known as the 11th runner-up on Dancing With the Stars; and Ryan Zinke, the Department of Interior nominee who has pushed for government handouts to failing coal companies.
#DayAgainstDenial Actions Happening Across the U.S. To Protest Trump Cabinet Pickshttps://t.co/6fpfZph3zT pic.twitter.com/9BCbkhXhMx
— Colorlines.com (@Colorlines) January 9, 2017
And let’s not forget Jeff Sessions, who brings the added bonus of being both a staunch climate science denier and outspoken racist. Sessions’ Senate hearing is currently underway.
The confirmation hearing for Jeff Sessions starts today. Call and tell your Senator to #StopSessions! https://t.co/g8rFAtvnTP
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) January 10, 2017
More From Around the Country on the #DayAgainstDenial
Many braved some of the coldest weather of the year to join the #DayAgainstDenial, like these activists in Boston …
.@SenWarren & @SenMarkey, THANK YOU for speaking out against Trump picks who deny climate science & human dignity! #DayAgainstDenial #mapoli pic.twitter.com/1HXvf6iAhP
— 350Mass (@350Mass) January 9, 2017
… and these in Minneapolis.
#DayAgainstDenial at Senator @amyklobuchar's office in Minneapolis. We had a big crowd! pic.twitter.com/6Vi9TjAAd5
— emma (@bymyelf) January 10, 2017
Voters in Florida targeted key Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who has already expressed doubts about Tillerson and could be poised to lead opposition to his nomination within the Republican party …
We stood strong today at @marcorubio's office in Doral to tell him to reject Trump's climate change denying cabinet! #DayAgainstDenial pic.twitter.com/GaqPiTXGBD
— Tim Canova (@Tim_Canova) January 9, 2017
… while others kept the pressure on Senate leaders who have already pledged to vote against Trump’s dangerous nominees.
Just called my senator @SenFeinstein + asked that she do everything in her power to #rejectREX Tillerson as Sec of State. Please call yours!
— Alison Sudol (@AlisonSudol) January 9, 2017
Activists in DC projected a “Reject Rex” message onto the walls of the State Department …
At the State Dept NOW calling on the Senate to #RejectExxon for Secretary of State! h/t @StopBigOil @other98 & @greenpeaceusa #rejectREX pic.twitter.com/viy1d9xuFO
— Alex Doukas (@adoukas) January 10, 2017
… and San Francisco ralliers were treated to powerful speeches by journalists Antonia Juhasz and Rebecca Solnit.
@AntoniaJuhasz breaks down how #rejectREX Tillerson pursued Exxon interests in ways that fuel wars & human rights abuses. #DayAgainstDenial pic.twitter.com/ti4BTyENRt
— Jon Rainwater (@jonrainwater) January 10, 2017
LIVE in SF w/ Rebecca Solnit: "You can see how misogyny, racism, corporate capitalism and climate denial are all connected here." #rejectrex
— Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) January 10, 2017
And while these activists took to the streets, you stood with them. In one day, more than 20,000 people signed on asking the Senate to block Rex Tillerson’s confirmation, and 3,000 people called their senators directly.
I called my senators this morning, and I can’t tell you how good it felt to get off the phone knowing that they — and their staff — are hearing our message loud and clear. Now it’s up to all of us to keep this momentum going! Act today stop climate denial from taking over the White House: call your senators at 855-636-8150 and ask them to #RejectRex.
