A friend of mine attended and was witness to all the incredulous, remarkable events that went down today—starting with the early morning march and ending 11 hours later with a conglomeration of singing activists escorting Tim DeChristopher away from the courthouse after his first day of trial. What struck him was the number and the diversity of contributors from out of town, from beyond our typically incredible Salt Lake City community.
I had to make it clear to him: what is it about Tim DeChristopher that would draw such a remarkable convergence to his home city, to march to a rally at the courthouse; to surge forward onto its federal grounds, risking police intervention; and to then stand their ground until his dismissal? To me, it’s simple, and this is what I told him:
The climate movement is based on a fairly hopeless scenario. No one who has paid attention and remained informed, as society has raced past countless scientist-identified “tipping points” of no return and government inaction and complicity has continued to support and encourage the industry responsible. The idea that a single person can toss a wrench in those enormous grinding gears, simply by first acting on his convictions and then refusing to compromise, is astonishingly hopeful and irrevocably inspiring.
What would happen if Tim’s action was repeated as many times as the number of his supporters who sang at the courthouse today for 11 cold hours? The possibilities are overwhelmingly limitless. Three or five hundred simultaneous federal trials, each boasting climate change as its driving issue, could shut down the federal judicial system; could counterbalance the powerful influence of the fossil fuel industry on our government.
The action that Tim took was unremarkable in its depth and complexity. His compelling, unquestionable motives are established; the auction was illegal, and in the process of being overturned. The consequences, had he not acted, were devastating—something for which anyone might sacrifice a year or two of freedom. His action was so simple as to be insane; it was easy, painless, and ridiculously effective. It was creative, and it was brave.
Tim proved that courage and sacrifice is all it takes. If we are informed and ready to act, boldly and without fear of consequence—well, then the potential is limitless. We could well win this, were we only ready and willing to see ourselves as capable of shaping the world around us. That (alongside fierce, inspired local advocacy) was enough to draw close a network of skilled, professional allies from intensely successful climate justice organizations across the nation—God bless them, each and every one—to Salt Lake City to support and endorse Tim’s and their cause.
What we did tonight was ridiculously simple, as well. The fact that we met no resistance whatsoever should have been obvious; after their local cops spent the night sleeping in the state Capitol with pro-union Wisconsin activists instead of clearing them from the premises as ordered, we here in Salt Lake City should have been unsurprised to honor, at the trial’s 11th hour, a request that we sing “Happy Birthday” to the on-site sergeant at the courthouse while waiting for Tim to emerge. We should have known that our earnest commitment to a universal, selfless cause was evidence enough to earn us credibility and respect from folks who really don’t see the state of things so differently than we do.
The world is ready to recognize and honor passion and sincerity in the face of government intimidation, widespread assumption, and complacent trust that has failed for so long to pay off and fix things. The world is ready to honor sacrifice, and respect integrity and conviction. The world, the United States, and the fine little communities that fell together today to support Tim DeChristopher are ready.
Are you?
Leave a Reply