Faith Leaders Joined Across America for Climate Action Demonstration
Building on the momentum of last year's, The People's Climate March, Wednesday's, People’s Climate Movement’s National Day of Action, garnered support from 170 communities in 47 states. Among the participants were our partner organization, Interfaith Power and Light, pictured below.
With a slightly different approach, "this year’s focus was on the localization of climate change impacts, giving communities across the nation the ability to voice the injustices they have personally faced with climate change." according to the Climate Progress article, Climate Change Is A Problem For Everyone, Protesters Across The Country Say.
Many faith organizations joined the protest across America with religious leaders sharing the streets with secular organizations, all of which strive to care for our common home. Marissa Knodel, Climate campaigner for Friends of the Earth, shared, “What we have this year sends a really strong message. Climate change impacts every single corner of our country and our globe…" Knodel continued, "You’re seeing how different cities are rallying around the issues that are affecting them locally.”
Climate Change Is A Problem For Everyone, Protesters Across The Country Say
“Hey hey ho ho climate change has got to go!”
Chants and drums rang through the streets of downtown Washington, D.C. yesterday afternoonduring the peak of rush hour traffic. About 500 people gathered from different sectors, advocacy groups, and areas of the region to rally around the fight for climate and social justice as a part of the People’s Climate Movement’s National Day of Action. Protesters held a die-in in front of the American Petroleum Institute, staged a short performance about the role big oil companies play in U.S. politics and economy, marched to Freedom Plaza to hear speeches from local leaders, and stood in solidarity and hope for global climate change justice.
D.C. was one of 170 communities in 47 states that protested on Wednesday for sustainable, just, and inclusive economies. People rallied to demand stronger action on climate from political leaders and called out corporations and institutions that are blocking economic and political progress on climate change, such as the American Petroleum Institute.
“We had all of the segments of D.C. here, from all over the city and from all over the region coming together showing the beautiful face of what it looks like to have a unified climate movement,” Keya Chatterjee, executive director of the U.S. Climate Action Network, told ThinkProgress.