Climate Change March Takes Place in NYC
An estimated 100,000 people gathered in New York City today to take part in the People’s Climate March, an event aimed at raising awareness for climate change.
One million flyers have been handed out over the last five days, promoting the event. Organizers expected a huge turnout going into the event on Sunday morning.
Over 1,100 organizations have endorsed the event, and over 100 world leaders attended. The march began at 11:30 a.m., starting on Central Park West between 65th and 86th Streets.
Marchers went down Central Park West and headed east on 59th Street. The march continued onto 6th Avenue, 42nd Street and 11th Avenue. It ended on 11th Avenue between 34th and 38th Streets.
At 1:00, the march held a moment of silence followed by an “alarm for climate action,” during which over 100,000 people rang out with trumpets, bells, whistles and more, sounding the alarm for climate change.
According to event organizers, the goal of the People’s Climate March is to demand immediate and bold action for climate change.
"This is the final crunch, the product of six months of work to make the People’s March a big, beautiful expression of the climate movement,” said Rachel Schragis. Shragis is one of the event coordinators, she organized a large group of artists and volunteers that helped produce banners, placards, floats and more for the event.
The day also featured several guest speakers, many of whom were effected by Hurricane Sandy. The end of the march featured a Climate Ribbon, which allowed people to write down what they fear they will lose to climate change. The art installation forms the roots and leaves of a massive tree, with ribbons saying things such as “Miami, my city,” and “The coastline of Manhattan.”
The event was not isolated to New York City. In fact, people from around the world held their own rallies in cities such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Lisbon, Delhi, Istanbul and more.
[Source: People's Climate March]