What The Hell America!

Photo: XRDC

Introduction

Dear rebel,

Does it ever feel like nobody is taking action on the things that matter? Does it ever feel like everyone is complacent and nobody cares?

Maybe it doesn’t feel that way so much this month. Maybe you saw the photos of thousands protesting in the United States, or heard about people taking to the streets in South Korea, Spain, Turkey, and more. Or maybe you didn’t know that, but at this very moment, people are actively protesting all over the world about the things that matter to them.

If we only get the news that’s filtered down to us through our social media and our push notifications, it can look like the world is burning and nobody cares. But we are here to tell you—even better, to show you—that the truth is far more hopeful. Just recently, XR rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo marched against the destruction of their environment. And more protests are soon to come, like in Italy where local XR groups have big plans.

The stakes are high. Our rebel dispatches will remind you that the climate crisis has people fighting for their lives and their futures. The protests we’re seeing today must continue, and they must grow in order to guarantee a liveable world. Luckily, we have the foundations, the communities, and the passion to make a difference. So the next time someone tells you that protest is pointless and the future is hopeless, send them this newsletter and ask them to think again.

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This newsletter is brought to you by XR Global Support, a worldwide network of rebels who help our movement grow. We need money to continue this crucial work.

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FROM THE BELLY OF THE BEAST, WITH LOVE, GRIEF, & RAGE

5 April | Washington DC and all 50 states

XRDC joined the nationwide Hands Off! mobilization as The Mourners, a poignant artistic expression of grief for Mother Earth. Photo: Will Dickson

Extinction Rebellion DC (XRDC) joined tens of thousands of people at the “Hands Off” rally in Washington, D.C. The rally was part of a nationwide day of protest, with more than 1,300 protests across the country. In D.C., while protesters directed their anger and outrage at the increasingly fascist tactics and policies of the Trump Administration, XRDC chose to focus on solemnity: mourning the loss of life and livelihoods that an extractive and exploitative capitalist-industrial system creates. The Mourning Rebels meandered silently through the crowds, holding space for grief.

Inspired by other rebels around the world, XRDC uses the Mourning Rebels as a recurring form of performance art to show that we reject the numbness of today’s society and bear witness to the loss – grieving in public to expose the violence, including the destruction of natural ecosystems, the exploitation of people and animals, and the loss of dignity in political discourse and social interactions. Mourning is a form of resistance that breaks the silence and rejects the lie that this destruction is normal.

“When those in power try to silence us, we rise louder”, explain rebels in D.C. “When they attack our communities, we fight back—together. Today was not just a protest; it was a call to defend our rights, our Constitution, and the planet we all share”.

Rebels marched for justice, for freedom, and for our future. Draped in black, they symbolized the ongoing destruction of our planet and the urgent need for action. Particularly poignant was when they joined forces with another group dressed as women from The Handmaid’s Tale. Photo: Will Dickson

While XRDC keeps focusing on its two main campaigns — stopping the investment in new methane infrastructure in DC and resisting the destruction of a forest for the expansion of a golf course — the Mourning Rebels will remain a recurring action. In the midst of rising violence and crackdowns on dissent, mourning is an expression of solidarity and community. And it is through this crucial process of grief, that we can cultivate meaningful action.

Follow XRDC’s campaigns on Instagram.

Action Round Up

Photo: Extinction Rebellion Rutshuru DRC

20 March 2025 | Kinshasa, DRC Captions. Photo: Credit

XR Rutshuru DRC mobilized in the Congolese capital Kinshasa in March to call on the Congolese government to definitively cancel the tenders for the sale of 27 oil blocks and 3 gas wells located in vulnerable protected areas and peatlands. To learn more about this issue, follow @extinctionrebellionrutshurudrc on Instagram

Dispatch from XR Ecuador

Photo: XR Ecuador

On March 13, following a landslide, the province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador, faced one of the worst environmental catastrophes in its history when the Trans-Ecuadorian Oil Pipeline System (SOTE) ruptured and spilled more than 25,000 barrels of oil, contaminating rivers, mangroves and beaches. More than 100,000 people have had their drinking water supply interrupted. The spill spread 86 km from the rupture site and affected more than 15 parishes. Historically, the Esmeraldas province has been marginalized and exploited, especially to the detriment of its Afro-Ecuadorian communities. Learn more and find out how to help by following @XREcuador on Instagram

Book of the Month

Scientists on Survival: Personal Stories of Climate Action
by Scientists for XR

Published March 27, 2025

Up until recently, many climate scientists have felt deeply worried but unable to speak out. This book brings together the stories of 24 scientists who each individually decided they could no longer keep quiet. Rage, grief and frustration are part of these journeys, but readers will take comfort from knowing they are not alone. This is a very personal book which will hopefully inspire more scientists (and others) to take the leap and become climate activists. Foreword by Chris Packham.

Learn more here.

Support local bookshops! If you buy online, use Bookshop or Hive. Avoid Amazon.

Must Reads

The Guardian: Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer

Share this with your uncle who keeps calling climate change a “commie hoax”.

Upcoming Actions

Photo: XR Italy

Noisy Spring in Italy

April 25 to May 1 | Rome

Like many around the world, Italians are now faced with a choice: Truth or denial? Action or collapse? Democracy or ecofascism? Well-being for all or wealth for the few? XR Italia is launching a week of rebellion for a Primavera Rumorosa from 25 April to 1 May in Rome. Hundreds have already signed up so get ready for some noise!

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Announcements

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We’d Like to Hear From You!

Thank you for reading, rebel. If you have any questions or feedback or ideas for future newsletters, we want to hear from you. Please let us know about upcoming events at least a month ahead of time, if possible. And let us know if you have an idea about something we should amplify globally! xr-newsletter@protonmail.com.

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Get involved in XR wherever you are! Check out our global website, learn more about our movement, and connect with rebels in your local area.

This newsletter is brought to you by XR Global Support, a worldwide network of rebels who help our movement grow. We need money to continue this crucial work.

Donate What You Can