Join the State House Stand Out for Daytime Rebellion!

In June 2026, the State House Stand Out celebrated its third anniversary, the longest continuous climate standout in Massachusetts history! The Stand Out has become a resilient community of activists who care for their fellow members, constantly coordinating to make sure others are supported. We gather at the Massachusetts State House (24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133) between 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Volunteers stand together for 2-hour "shifts," either outside or inside (depending on weather), and talk with visitors and State House staff about the climate crisis. Visitors to the State House participate in one-on-one climate conversations with Stand Out volunteers and receive handouts, stickers, and other informational materials. Volunteers can also write and deliver uniquely designed postcards in support of No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure to any legislators.

What are some wins of the State House Stand Out?

The sheer visibility of the Stand Out is extraordinary. At Day 340, organizers estimated that our volunteers have shared climate messaging with 70,000 people and shared approximately 1,700 in-depth conversations. These numbers includes folks from all generations and from across the world.

According to Stewart Clements, one of the Stand Out's organizers, "We've spoken with visitors from China, Finland, Germany, France, Rwanda, Japan, Korea, Italy, Norway, Brazil, Haiti, the Netherlands, and many other corners of the world. We've met people from all across the United States. We are seeding the world with subversive climate ideas that many of these people haven't thought about until they meet us. These people leave us having changed slightly."

In one example of the State House Stand Out's legislative impact, the 2024 Climate Bill had stalled out at the end of the legislative session in July. At that point, the Stand Out had taken a small break after its first year to re-asses priorities, but members quickly re-assembled to fight this climate inaction. After a series of disruptive protests by XR Boston, along with daily stand-outs, the climate bill passed. It wasn't a perfect bill by any means, and the policies it includes are already under attack with the climate rollback bill introduced in 2025, but it still set a new precedent.

In November 2024, Governor Healey signed into law "An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity, and protecting ratepayers." Among other notable climate opportunities, this bill included the first ever update to the 1956 charter for Massport, Massachusetts’ Port Authority. Massport owns and operates three airports, Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport, and public terminals in the Port of Boston.

This historic charter update requires Massport to address greenhouse gas emissions from aviation. Specifically, the revised charter requires the agency to promote "environmental protection and resilience, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental justice principles" in its decision-making. Before Governor Healey signed it, the legislation passed by wide margins in the state Senate with a 38 to 2 vote and House vote of 128 to 17. Here is an article XR Boston's newsletter published right before the bill was officially passed.

Since the 2024 climate law, the State House Stand Out has continued to fight all aspects of new fossil fuel infrastructure, including directing public attention to Massachusetts's policy of allowing consumers to buy private jets without sales tax.

What are the State House Stand Out's demands?

Demand #1 - To Governor Healey and all Legislators: No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure in Massachusetts. This ban includes the Algonquin Gas Transmission Pipeline and the proposed expansion of Hanscom Field.

Demand #2 - To Governor Healey: Declare a statewide climate emergency.

How can I join the Stand Out?

We welcome everyone, especially folks from other climate groups (350, Mothers Out Front, Sunrise, SPJE, Mass Power Forward, etc.) to come stand with us - even for a short visit. To get involved, you can simply arrive at the State House anytime between 10 am and 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and connect with the volunteers onsite, who will happily onboard you. To find us, check both the General Hooker entrance on Beacon Street and the Ashburton entrance on Bowdoin Street. Signs, wearable tabards, and handouts are supplied, just bring yourself! If you have questions about the Stand Out or would like to get a link to the sign-up sheet, you can contact organizers at fossilfuels.standout.ma@proton.me