Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Making laws is complicated. The process of drafting, introducing, voting, and passing bills into law can be hard for even the most avid politics lover to understand.
But don’t worry. We've got you. This post will help you give you a basic intro to law-making in Illinois, explain why we have a Fall Advocacy day coming up, why it matters, and why we want you at the Statehouse in Springfield with us!
What is Advocacy Day?
On October 29th, Faith in Place and other environmental organizations in Illinois are rallying our efforts to bring people to the Statehouse in Springfield during Veto Session. Everyone will be given the tools they need to speak with their lawmakers about climate change and environmental justice.
What is Veto Session?
We are headed to the Statehouse in Springfield during what is called Veto Session. To catch you up to speed on that, we invite you to enjoy the following infographic:
So as you can see, Veto Session is the time of year when legislators go back to the Statehouse to make final decisions on bills the Governor vetoed. They can choose to override the Governor's vetoes from the summer. They can also try to pass bills that didn't pass before May 31st, but they need a supermajority (or 2/3 of legislators voting in favor of the bill).
Why Are We Holding an Advocacy Day During Veto Session?
In Illinois, we are already feeling the physical and economic effects of climate change and we want our representatives to acknowledge it and deal with it now. Transitioning to clean and just energy is one way Illinois can be a leader in addressing climate change and environmental injustice simultaneously.
By bringing as many people as possible to the Statehouse during Veto Session, we are letting lawmakers know that now is the time to transition to clean energy. It cannot wait until the new year. We need them to protect the well-being of Illinoisans facing the climate crisis and living in communities affected by pollution and toxic chemicals. Clean energy legislation that focuses on environmental justice is one way to make our future healthy and economically sound. We need them to adopt this legislation today.
We Want You To Be With Us!
To make a strong impact on lawmakers, we want as many voices as possible rallying with us. If you can join us on October 29th, we will provide you all the tools you need to learn how to talk with your lawmakers and let them know that you want a safe and healthy environment for you and your community.
We have buses that provide free rides to and from Springfield from several different locations in Illinois.
Can't Make It Oct. 29th? You Can Still Make Your Voice Heard
We also know that it can be hard to make time on Tuesday to head to Springfield. If you can’t join us in person, you can still make your voice heard by signing this petition for climate justice. We need you and your story to impact lawmakers whose policies will determine our future. Voices of faithful Earth advocates will make a difference and we need you to help us tell legislators the time to act on climate and environmental injustice is now! Thank you for working with us to protect the world around us!