Democracy, the Rule of Law, and The Climate Movement: A Deep Connection
First Take: A Personal Reflection On Why Growing The Climate Movement Simultaneously Supports Democracy and the Rule of Law
Renee Good and Alex Pretti
A mom shot in the face. A nurse shot in the back.
With the events happening in Minneapolis, especially the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — martyrs in the cause of democracy and the rule of law — none of us in the US can stay silent. Alex Pretti’s last words to the woman he was trying to protect were “Are you ok?”
Are we ok? Not in the least.
My Actions For Democracy and the Rule of Law
Ever since 2019 I have been deeply concerned about the threat to democracy and the rule of law that Mr. Trump and his Administrations represent. That’s why I founded and Chaired Evangelicals For Biden (EFB) in 2020 and Evangelicals For Harris (EFH) in 2024, dedicating over two years of full-time energy to the cause. I wanted to do the most strategic thing I could to remove Trump from power in 2020 and keep him from regaining power in 2024. While our EFH campaign in 2024 was successful, our candidate was not.
These two efforts significantly delayed the launch of this Substack, Climate Hope Together. But I considered both campaigns to be strategic to the climate cause for two basic reasons.
In the US, democracy and the rule of law are foundational to our ability as The Climate Movement and Climate Action Supporters to play our parts in overcoming climate change by achieving a just and prosperous sustainability that enhances the wellbeing of everyone and everything.
The climate policies of Biden and Harris were and would have been transformative, whereas Trump policies were and are the exact opposite.
After the 2024 election I returned to my climate work and, after 15 years of thinking, research, and preparation I launched this Substack in late June 2025.
Why did I refocus on climate? Because we haven’t a moment to lose and The Climate Movement must become the greatest and most long-lasting social change movement in the history of the world. However, we are nowhere near what we will become. We’ve got a tremendous amount of work to do.
A Crisis Moment For Confronting the Trump Administration’s Lawlessness
But right now in the US we are at a crisis moment with respect to the rule of law, which helps put our democracy in grave danger.
Sadly, my fears since 2019 have been borne out, my expectations met. In general, I am not shocked by what has been happening because this is what I was trying to prevent.
But my conscience is shocked with every cruelty, every brutality, every murder, the lawlessness of those in authority, the triumph of anti-science, the wanton demolition of clean energy, climate, and environmental policy, and the destruction of relationships with other countries and alliances that have been painstakingly created and maintained for over 75 years — not to mention the fuselage of lies that grow more outrageous and immoral with every passing day.
Are we ok? Not in the least.
A Deep Connection — Our Values
These actions by the Trump Administration are an affront to all of our Climate Movement Values: freedom, justice, non-violence, wisdom, pragmatism, creativity, sustainability, success, beauty, and love. Our values are diametrically opposed to these brutal, cruel, murderous, lawless actions of the Trump Administration. They put us in direct conflict with those in power.
But our values also create a deep connection between us and those standing up for the rule of law and defending and caring for their neighbors in Minneapolis and other besieged communities in the US.
In addition to our values we must remember that for us in the US our ability to play our role is contingent upon democracy and the rule of law. It is not just about our values; it is also about our ability to play our part.
And so every Climate Movement Member, every Climate Movement Artist-Athlete must stand with those resisting the lawlessness of Trump’s ICE and Border Patrol. We must do what we can even as we continue with climate action on our Olympian Fields of Action.
Even in the midst of this current lawlessness we must continue to grow The Climate Movement in the US, because to do so is, simultaneously, to grow those with the values to stand up for democracy and the rule of law.
It’s not one or the other. It’s one and the other. It’s one reinforcing the other in our struggle to create a better world, one where love and justice and beauty are what define us.
We move forward, inspired by the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who, in Lincoln’s famous words, gave the last full measure of devotion.
Are we ok? Not in the least. Will we be ok? That’s up to us.
We will never give up.
Join us!
If you are new here, check out our Intro Series. If you like this post, please “like,” comment, and share. And thanks for all you’re doing.