Demonstrations criticize Republican nominee Donald Trump’s environmental and energy plans.
By Emily Kresse
All across the state last week, protesters gathered to highlight potential voters on presidential Republican nominee Donald Trump’s position on environmental policies and the problems they see with it.
NextGen Climate, an environmental advocacy organization, organized “Take Action, Stop Trump” protests in Iowa City, Des Moines, Ames, and Waterloo on July 21, partnering with CREDO, United We Dream Action, and People’s Action.
Although NextGen Climate has not formally endorsed any candidate, Zack Davis, the state director for Iowa NextGen Climate, said it is clear which major-party presidential candidate’s plan is in line with NextGen’s platform.
“Hillary Clinton has put out a plan that meets our benchmark that we talked to folks about of 100 percent clean energy by 2050, and Donald Trump has put out a climate plan and an energy plan that is disastrous,” Davis said.
Davis, who participated in the Des Moines anti-Trump demonstration last week, said that the march started at the Republican Party of Iowa’s headquarters and ended outside the State Capitol. The group chose to target Trump on the day he accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for president.
“[The goal was] to let folks know there are a lot of people here in Iowa, especially young voters, who see climate change and clean energy as a top issue for them, and they’re not going to sit back and let Donald Trump win Iowa or win the presidency,” Davis said.
Trump has repeatedly said he would abolish the Environmental Protection Agency and expressed skepticism that climate change is real. Clinton’s campaign has outlined an extensive environmental plan, with climate change indicated as a priority.
“[Trump’s] policies and views on climate change would have a disastrous impact on the economy here in Iowa,” Davis said.
Michelle Lutz, who attended the Iowa City demonstration and has worked with NextGen since November 2015, said young people have the biggest responsibility come Election Day.
“We’re the generation that needs to step up, and if we don’t, we’re going to see consequences that could have been avoided,” she said. “The science is undeniable — you can’t allow a small minority of deniers to control the policy for the entire world.”
Davis also said this election is especially contingent on how millennials vote, which is why NextGen focuses on pushing voter registration at its events.
“Eighteen- to 34-year-olds are going to be just as large a voting bloc this election cycle as baby boomers, so we want to make sure people are registered to vote,” he said.
“This election is important because environmental action is needed soon,” he said.
“We have a very limited window in order to move our country to a clean energy economy, to address the disastrous impacts of climate change,” Davis said.
Iowa City resident Ben Craighton, who attended Iowa City’s rally July 21, said he hoped to inform people who support Trump because they may be unaware of his policies.
“I really think Trump is a dangerous person, not only to the U.S. but to the entire world,” he said. “A man with that kind of temperament and arrogance is not a man you want with access to nuclear weapons.”