People’s Climate Movement Marches Forward on April 29

This blog was written by Sarah Gilliam, former Communications Coordinator at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Guest Blog | April 19, 2017 | Climate Change, Energy Justice, Energy Policy

On April 29, people all over the country will rise up to demonstrate the political will for serious action on climate change. There will be a major march in Washington, D.C. to show that regardless of political rhetoric, the majority of Americans favor fact-based action over denial. Dozens of sister marches will take place all over the Southeast for those who cannot make it to D.C. Please plan to attend your local event or hop on one of the many buses heading to D.C. Together, we will show our strength in numbers and demand accountability from our elected leaders.

Peoples Climate March on 4/29 in Washington D.C.

Join thousands of your fellow Americans for the historic march in our nation’s capital, which will likely be the largest ever mobilization of people to support climate action. April 29th will be the 100th day in office for President Trump, a known climate denier and fossil fuel proponent. The timing for the march is very significant, given the Trump administration’s recent executive order rolling back the Clean Power Plan. Our hard work towards climate action is seriously in jeopardy and there’s just no time to sit back and watch the seas and temperatures rise because we are now under a leader who denies the science behind climate change in favor of “alternative facts.”

Organizers for this march have made it very easy to get to DC to take part in this special day. Here are some resources if you decide to make the trip:

Can’t make it to DC? Join a sister march! There are many happening across the country, here are a few in our region, and you can check out the full list HERE.

Miami March, 4/29, 1pm, Jose Marti Park, Miami, FL

For those in South Florida, this sister march is in the heart of Miami neighborhoods where the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise and sunny day flooding, are ALREADY being felt. This march focuses on “Jobs, Justice, and Climate” and is being organized by the frontline community groups of Miami, including Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Miami Climate Alliance, 35o.org, New Florida Majority, Union of Concerned Scientists, and many others. Check out the Facebook event page, get involved in art builds, join planning meetings, RSVP, and spread the word!

Asheville March, 4/29, 10am, Pack Square, Asheville, NC

The Asheville Indivisible Climate SubGroup is organizing the Sister Climate March to the DC event here in town on April 29. We will kick off (RAIN OR SHINE!) with a rally near Vance Monument in Pack Square at 10am featuring motivational speeches from: Brownie Newman, Chair of Buncombe County

Commission; Dee Williams, candidate for City Council; Rev. Thomas Murphy of All Souls Cathedral; Drew Jones of Climate Interactive as MC; Invited: Youth speaker and representative of the Cherokee Nation.

Check out the Facebook event page, get involved, join planning meetings, RSVP, and spread the word! For the “march” component of the event we will be doing sidewalk marching throughout the city and then reconvening in Pack Square for music and other activities. Please stay tuned for details and come out on April 29 to rally in support of climate action at all levels of government!  After we march, we will gather at the Block Off Biltmore for music, food, drinks and more TBA!

Find the official event website here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/asheville-peoples-climate-march

Charleston People’s Climate Parade, 4/29, 9am, Charleston, SC

Join the Charleston People’s Climate Parade to call for climate action with people power, art, and creativity. The parade will progress from The Royal American (970 Morrison Drive) to the St. Julian Devine Community Center (1 Cooper Street) and will feature giant puppets leading the march, creative and festive costumes (wear rain gear if possible), musical instruments, signage & chants, so that we can make a loud proclamation that the time is now to act on climate. Arrive early (9:00) to The Royal American to make signs (materials, stencils, and ideas provided) and get a cup of coffee. Speakers will commence at 9:30 am and the parade will begin at 10:00 am. The route is 0.7 miles and should take about 20-30 minutes to walk it. Public art installations along the route will highlight Charleston’s vulnerability to sea level rise. A community festival with a jump castle and live music will conclude the parade at St. Julian Devine. Please RSVP to the parade on the Facebook event page here and please share it with your friends and family!

This event will serve as the kickoff for Awakening, the month-long series of free events and public art installations to raise awareness of Charleston’s vulnerability to sea level rise and to harness creative solutions. Awakening is an annual event organized by Enough Pie to highlight relevant issues facing our community.

Atlanta Events, April 22 – April 29

Atlantans will have events all week, from Saturday, April 22 to Saturday, April 29, to celebrate science and its role in public policy and call for climate action. The week will kick off with the March for Science in Atlanta on April 22 (RSVP on Facebook here and share with friends!), from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, beginning and ending in Candler Park. More information on the march is here.

A series of events, called Truth to Justice, will take place April 23-27, organized by the 1.5 Degree Patrol, and will include an Earth Day Sunday Service (4/23); Policy Day (4/24); Carbon Free Walk, Bike, Skate, Stroll, Reflect and Bar Hop on Atlanta East Side Trail (4/25); Art Making for the Care of Creation, Resistance, Equity, Justice and Truth (4/26); and Exploring Our Good Earth with Youth at Truly Living Well (4/28). More information on these events is on the flyer here and updates will be published on the 1.5 Degree Patrol Facebook page as additional details are confirmed.

While there will not be a People’s Climate March sister march in Atlanta, there are several buses available to take you from ATL to D.C. and space is still available! You can book your ticket here and there financial assistance is available for those who need it–just ask. The buses are being organized by Georgia Sierra Club and the 1.5 Degree Patrol. The buses will depart at 10:00pm on Friday, April 28th and arrive back in Atlanta on Sunday morning, and you will NOT need to arrange lodging in D.C., but rather will sleep on the bus each way. If you are not able to join the buses to D.C. but want to support the cause, please attend the Rally for Resilience on Friday, 4/28 starting at 7:30pm to send off the buses to D.C. RSVP and information here.

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