Young people are set to rally Saturday against Elon Musk’s xAI project in the name of environmental justice.
Two groups — Young Minds United and Tigers Versus Musk — are hosting a Young Folks Rally at the Kukutana Museum Ballroom located at 1036 Firestone Avenue on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“While many city leaders, including Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, believe that xAI is ‘not a threat’ and ‘monetarily good for Memphis,’ as citizens and the people who have to live with the consequences of these short-term decisions, we beg to differ,” Young Minds United said in a statement.
Historically, young people have been at the heart of social justice and resistance movements. A survey of 1,000 Americans from the United Way of the National Capital Area found that a third of Gen Zers are involved in activism work.
While the numbers are there, Jasmine Bernard, co-founder of Young Minds United, feels like history books intentionally don’t reflect this.
“Systems like adultism make it seem like youth don’t have as much say, when in reality we’re one of the strongest bodies in our country,” Bernard said. “As youth, we know the power that we have and we know how much people try to limit that.”
Bernard has always been interested in climate change, which prompted her to get involved in social justice. However, as someone living in South Memphis for a majority of her life she’s personally experienced how these injustices have plagued marginalized communities.
The rising high school junior noted that groups like Tigers Versus Musk are filled with college-aged people. While Bernard became involved in the group, she realized that she could engage youth and young people by starting Young Minds United.
“I was able to connect with other youth who felt just as passionately about these areas and share expertise,” she said.
Bernard’s first time being able to publicly engage in conversation about xAI was during a fireside chat hosted by Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) with Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
In a video that went viral, Bernard can be seen telling Young and the crowd, “All money is not good money.”
A major criticism of the xAI project has been the lack of transparency about the project. Public officials have touted these chats and other public forums as moves towards transparency around xAI.
“It’s hard to see the people who are supposed to protect you not do that, especially when it’s not just the police,” Bernard said. “Your Black mayor, your Black county mayor, you see them as people who are supposed to care about their constituents. So, when you see them talk — like Mayor Lee Harris — [saying] xAI isn’t a threat, but it’s physically causing health side effects to the people in South Memphis, it’s kind of disappointing.”
Bernard said she’s still grappling with how to work with officials, but notes it can be hard to, specifically for those coming from oppressed and disadvantaged backgrounds. While she said some of these systems weren’t made for groups like women, Black people, and youth, strides can be made from the outside.
“If we come together as a force, that makes people intimidated,” Bernard said. “Youth decisions are so important, and you can’t make decisions for youth without youth. Nothing about us can be without us.”
