By Duncan Baumgarten Part 3 of 3 The soft clink of glassware against glassware brewed an ambient atmosphere of community. Crisp coffee soaked into the walls, and into the pores, like smoke. Despite the time of day, the shop was fairly empty, the round tables left vacant. A juxtaposition formed; the darkness of the Fairbanks mid-day, to the warmth and invitation of the soft-brown wood interior. It provided an opportunity for frankness and honesty as I began my conversation with Borough Assembly Member Liz Lyke, on Tuesday, December 11. Lyke, the first transgender woman elected to Fairbanks public office, had been spending a late evening at the city council. Not as a politician, however, but as a citizen, awaiting a verdict on an LGBTQ ordinance. If passed, it would protect those who identify within the LGBTQ community from discrimination. The ordinance was tabled, leaving Lyke feeling disappointed.
It was a seamless transition to the topic I wanted to discuss: how politically active is Fairbanks, on a scale of one to ten? “I’d say, overall, it’s about a five,” said Lyke, but stressed that “there’s people on both sides of the spectrum who are a ten.” Her own political involvement reflected her personal views; she served on campaigns for democrats during the midterms, and ran for borough assembly in October. Her ambitions began with something much simpler, however. It was the summer of 2016. Jane Peppy, a friend of Lyke’s, proposed that they begin a small feminist book club. Following the November 2016 elections, with Donald Trump becoming the 45th president of the United States, they decided to commit. As the years passed, it blossomed into what is now known as the Fairbanks Activist Forum, or the FAF. The FAF has dedicated their efforts to protests, rallies, and activism since its inception. Highlights included opposition to Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, and support for those affected by the Parkland shootings. “We empowered students to rally,” said Lyke, “it’s so good to see so many high school students.” Making the community’s voice heard is vital, said Lyke, stressing the importance of having a balance between an online presence, and being present for rallies and activism. “You have to have both,” she asserted. When it comes to legislature, the borough assembly member could speak from experience about the helpfulness of community input.
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By Duncan Baumgarten Part 2 of 3 The mayor’s office was sheltered behind glass, with trinkets and memories lining the walls. Fluorescent lights and carpet made the room feel soft, even inviting. “I don’t like to be called the mayor,” said city mayor Jim Matherly, “I like to be called their mayor.”
“I want to be seen as an involved, approachable mayor.” On November 8, I went downtown to City Hall, to discuss the political climate of Fairbanks with city mayor Jim Matherly. Since 2017, there have been a handful of political rallies, protests, and demonstrations, most recently in support of Youth v. Gov, the landmark court case intent to sue the US government for knowingly polluting the environment. I asked Matherly about the political awareness of the Fairbanks community, on a scale of one to ten. “I’d say it’s about an eight, between high schools, young adults, and guys my own age.” he stressed that most issues have a political component, and that politics is “much more than just running and serving”. Matherly wasn’t aware of Juliana v. United States, but when I asked for his take on the process of political activism, he showed his admiration. “Protesting is fantastic,” said Matherly. “If you want to get a point across, putting together a march or a rally, is a great idea, because sometimes, that’s the only voice that you have.” However, having grown up in Fairbanks, with his youth in the 1970s, Matherly didn’t notice much political demonstration, in part because of the speed of the news cycle. “The internet causes a lot of anxiety,” he said, noting the irony of the claim that “we love the technology we have, but we yearn for a simpler time”, a time of youth. “It’s a flippin’ firehouse,” he laughed, speaking of the seemingly endless and uncontrollable stream of information in the 21st century. “You can watch any leader speak at any time 24 hours a day. There’s a lot more information than there ever was, at your fingertips, and I think that fuels a lot of protest.” Community member gather October 29, 2018 in Golden Heart Plaza for a rally to support Juliana v. United States. By Duncan Baumgarten Part 1 of 3 "What will you leave behind?" "Think of the little children" "Honor the Earth" The plaza was cast in a pale blue. Breath condensed inches in front of faces. Arms held handmade signs aloft, bright white knuckles against deep pink hands. The First Families statues, the fountain long since run dry, watched the forming crowd.
On October 29, a group of approximately thirty community members rallied in support for the revolutionary Juliana v. the United States, at the Golden Heart Plaza in downtown Fairbanks. A crowd of “young, old, and somewhere in between” came together to support the landmark environmental case. Juliana v. the United States, also known as Youth v. Gov, is a lawsuit originally filed in 2015. A group of twenty-one plaintiffs brought charges against the US government for, according to Tom Baring, father of one of the plaintiffs, having “knowingly exacerbated” pollution and climate change. The plaintiffs are represented by Our Children’s Trust, who intend to “elevate the voices of youth” and “to secure the right to a stable climate and healthy atmosphere” according to their website. Environmentalist and activist Tristan Glowa held the role of master of ceremonies as the event coalesced. He proclaimed the need to show the youth “that we’ve got their back”. He stressed the importance of humanity’s respectful relationship with the environment, and with the land. “People power helps moves us to justice,” said Glowa. Among the twenty-one plaintiffs is nineteen-year-old Nathan Baring, a recent West Valley graduate. His father, Tom Baring, spoke at the rally. He found the youth activism as well as his son’s work to help hold the government accountable “incredibly inspiring”. He avowed the Trump Administration’s attempts to “circumvent” the proper legal procedure, as the case had been repeatedly halted by attempts to dismiss, specifically the ninth circuit court. “The Trump administration is trying to silence our youth,” he said. Baring cited various cases of environmental endangerment, with a recent Hawaiian island “disappearing” following a typhoon, and the current state of the Barrier Reef being very near elimination. He also spoke of struggles related to climate change in Barrow, and condemned the Federal Government for ignoring it for so long. “How many disasters do we need?” he asked, but stressed that there was still time to cause more damage. “This is a moral and spiritual issue,” he said, “and we’re making it a legal issue, too.” Baring declared happily that out of all the speakers for the rally, he was “the only one over the age of nineteen”. |
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