Marchers Call Attention to Climate Change

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, calling for an end to the legislative silence on climate change, flooded the streets of New York City in the People’s Climate March on Sunday. The march, hosted in anticipation of the UN climate summit on Tuesday, saw over 310,000 people come out to support the cause.

The march saw a wide array of activists and groups, from students to environmentalists, scientists to socialists, young and old alike. It was very peaceful and well-organized. No arrests were made.

At 11:30 AM, marchers began their trek from 86th Street along Central Park, through Times Square, and over to the Far West Side, where the route ended at 34th Street.

Many major figures were present, from legislators to Al Gore to Leonardo Dicaprio.

Marchers sported signs saying “Don’t Frack With Us,” “Windmills Over Weapons,” “There is no Planet B,” and “The Debate is Over.” People carried huge banners and played music for marchers to dance to. At 1:00, there was two minutes of utter silence, in which marchers held up two-fingers in a peace sign, followed by a wave of sound, in which marchers screamed and clapped and whooped in unison.

Volunteer “peacekeepers” and security were stationed all along the route. There were also water-bottle filling stations placed strategically along the walk. Marchers could also get posters to carry, reading “Jobs, Justice, Clean Energy” and “I’m marching for:” and a white space to fill in each individual’s cause. There were even Sharpies on hand. People wrote things like “the earth,” “my grandchildren’s grandchildren,” and “love.”

The march, spanning over four miles long, saw over 50,000 students, and groups from all over the country. Over 550 buses from around the country came, carrying thousands of people, according to the Huffington Post.  Representatives from around the world, from Canada to France to Italy, also came to show their support.

There were events in 166 other countries around the world, from London to Melbourne, which saw 40,000 and 30,000 marchers, respectively.

More than 120 world leaders are expected to convene at the United Nations in Manhattan this Tuesday, according to the Huffington Post.