Time to Tell the Truth: a Vigil for Wynn Bruce

CW: This event and event description deals with loss of life and activist self-harm. Reader beware.

Extinction Rebellion Boston will be conducting a reflective and regenerative vigil this Friday at 6 pm to honor the life of climate activist Wynn Bruce. This event will involve multiple periods of silent contemplation and silent marching throughout the city. We will begin at Boston City Hall plaza and end at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in the Seaport. Our aims are:

1. Tell the Truth: We need to tell the public why this activist went to such lengths to stop climate inaction. His act was an act of desperation, not insanity.

2. Grieve and Reflect: We will create space and time for participants to fully grieve and process what happened with the support of other activists.

3. Commit to Our Resolve: Extinction Rebellion does not condone any form of violence for any political means— including violence inflicted on the self. As Extinction Rebels, we aim to create regenerative community and work to locate the power inherent to ourselves and to our numbers. We are facing an uphill battle, so it is essential that we move with hope contrary to climate fatalism. We ground our actions in our most base feelings: love, rage, celebration, grief, joy, and fear. Let's be in solidarity with the global movements—not martyrs for them.

Background

Wynn Bruce, 50, of Boulder Colorado took his own life by setting himself on fire and burning to death in front of the Supreme Court on April 22, Earth Day at 6.30 pm. He was a Buddhist and a climate activist. It was not a suicide. His self-immolation was a fearless act of compassion to bring attention to the climate and ecological crisis.

The dire state of the planet and worsening crisis are driving people to extreme amounts of climate grief and despair. While we don't condone this behavior, we will pay tribute to Wynn for his sacrifice by holding vigils all around the US and the world. We will continue to honor him by continuing to bring light to these issues, to protect life on earth. May Wynn Bruce rest in peace and power.

The science is unequivocal: climate change threatens the life of humans and of the planet. The IPCC's latest report says: "Any further delay in concerted anticipatory global action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all."

Read more about the recent Supreme Court hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to control pollution here, and last Friday's event here.