Milwaukee, WI – September 29, 2022 — Today, MoveOn, NextGen PAC – two of the country’s largest civic actions organizations – and several grassroots community leaders gathered in Milwaukee to protest Senator Ron Johnon’s extreme views, demand action on climate change, and mobilize voters for Senate candidate Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
In response to Senator Johnson calling climate change “bullsh*t,” activists rallied in force to make their voices heard against Johnson’s failure to act on climate change. Today’s events featured the unveiling and tour of a life-size manure sculpture – a “scatue” – of Johnson around the city of Milwaukee. Activists also spoke out in support of Barnes, who chaired the governor’s task force on climate change, which issued 55 recommendations on how the Badger State can address the climate crisis.
Milwaukee resident and MoveOn member Luz Sosa stated, “With the extreme flooding and abnormal weather we have seen here over the past several years, it is very clear that climate change is a real crisis. By denying the climate threat and voting against climate action, Ron Johnson is showing he is in sharp contrast with Wisconsin voters. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is the leader we deserve in the Senate, and he will fight to protect the planet for generations to come.”
Sonja Chojnacki, NextGen PAC Wisconsin State Director, who was collecting pledges to vote at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, reported, “There was a great energy today on campus with the students. Young people are fired up because they understand the urgency of the climate crisis and are hungry for change. We are ready to roll up our sleeves and get people to the polls. Ron Johnson must go!”
MoveOn’s Campaign Manager Alexis Martinez added, “Wisconsinites know that Senator Ron Johnson’s climate denialism is B.S. Out-of-touch MAGA millionaire Ron Johnson refuses to protect our water, air, crops, and land from pollution, runoff, flooding, and other preventable climate disasters. From the hurricanes in Florida, to wildfires in California and extreme flooding in Wisconsin, Americans are suffering from the impacts of climate change. We are out of time for inaction, the people of Wisconsin deserve a senator who believes in climate change and won’t take money from the fossil fuel industry to get richer himself.”
To further communicate Johnson’s climate denialism to voters, MoveOn launched a new, five-figure digital ad buy today across Wisconsin. The ad showcases Johnson’s notorious “bullsh*t” comment and invites viewers to vote for Barnes. The ad can be viewed here.
Additional media highlights, including photos and videos from today’s events, can be viewed here. An official video recap will be distributed in the coming days.
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