Although Van Jones' resignation as Special Advisor for Green Jobs at the White House may have put a damper on the green jobs movement, it certainly didn’t last very long. Youth from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Avaaz Action Factory, the Energy Action Coalition, and Campus Progress participated in a green jobs rally at the United States Senate on September 8, 2009.

 

The group’s rally was timed to coincide with the Senators return from their summer recess. It was a coincidence that the rally fell just after Jones’ resignation made headlines across the nation. The rally was designed to urge Senators to support clean energy from a legislative standpoint.

 

“A group consisting mainly of young people formed a "Clean Energy Assembly Line" in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building and constructed miniature windmills to represent the millions of green jobs that would be created by passing a strong bill.” Source: Chesapeake Climate Action Network

 

 

Jones’ keynote address at Power Shift ’09 was motivational and empowering. The speech motivated youth across the nation to stand up for green jobs. While Jones may be out, in an official capacity, his work with the green jobs movement has not ended. As he continues to reach out to the youth of the nation, rallies like these will continue to take place.