It is an understatement to say that this is a dramatic week in the struggle to combat the climate emergency.

Right outside the halls of power, five young activists are entering the eighth day of a hunger strike for climate justice in Washington, DC.

Meanwhile, inside those halls, right-wing Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is working overtime to decimate the climate provisions in the Build Back Better legislation on behalf of the fossil fuel industry. On Thursday, climate champion and progressive Democratic House member, Ro Khanna is convening a House Committee hearing on the deceptions of the same fossil fuel industry in which four industry CEOs and the heads of the two most powerful pro-fossil fuel lobbying groups will testify (having been subpoenaed).

We can have no illusions about the cavernous divide between Manchin and the oiligarchy, and Khanna and the young activists. We must stand both inside and outside with the champions of climate justice, and demand the Democratic Party make a clean break with the fossil fuel industry. And as we do so, we must also foreground the needs of displaced workers and frontline communities.

In the coming days, look for PDA to endorse a slate of candidates from across the country running in primaries against pro-fossil fuel Democrats.  Please support us in this essential work for the people and the planet.

This week, let’s show full solidarity with the hunger strikers and tune in to Ro Khanna’s hearing on Thursday. You can get updates on both via  @PDAmerica on Twitter, or if you prefer an email update let us know.

Thanks so much for anything you can do.