As the climate warms, the guillotine will fall on the necks of children.
That was the message Youth United for Climate Action (YUCA) hoped New Mexico legislators derived from an elaborate demonstration outside the Roundhouse on the opening day of the 2020 session.
“We need lawmakers to consider the impact of their decision on us, on indigenous communities on the frontlines, and on future generations,” high school seniors Seneca Johnston and Veroaylin Campos said to a crowd of supporters and onlookers.
A light round of snow-rain mix began to fall over the gathered crowd as the demonstration commenced. With rising chants, the steady, solemn beat of a drum echoed across the east entrance of the Roundhouse. As the drums changed, the demonstration took a dramatic turn when three older men dressed in suits escorted three children to the prop guillotine, the children's’ hands bound in rope as they approached the gallows.
“History has its eyes on our lawmaker’s this session,” Johnston and Campos read from a prepared speech while their fellow demonstrators’ necks still capitulated in the make-shift guillotine.
Some of the legislation addressing climate change this year are senate bill 104 — prohibiting issuance of new hydraulic fracking permits — senate bill 95 — altering the rules of nuclear waste monitoring task force — and house bill 124 — prohibiting the use of the pesticide Chlorpyrifos.
Neither Johnston or Campos said they plan on attending the University of New Mexico after they graduate.
Lissa Knudsen contributed reporting to this article.
Justin Garcia is the Editor in Chief of the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at editorincheif@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Just516garc
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