More than 300,000 protestors marched through the streets of New York City for the Peoples Climate March — part of an international day of action to call attention to global warming — exceeding the expectations of organizers.
The demonstrators hoped to send a message to world leaders that a diverse and growing international contingent wants action to reign in our fossil fuel-powered economies and to tackle the problems associated with our planet’s increasingly out-of-control climate. The UN will meet this week in New York to begin work on a climate commitment to lower emissions — and possibly aid poorer countries struggling to deal with climate change — that it hopes nations will sign on to in 2015.
The turnout was nearly three times larger than organizers anticipated: Early estimates of 310,000 would make the march one of the larger protests in American history, rivaling the size of the 1963 March on Washington. It would also make today’s demonstration more than three times the size of the rally before the UN summit in Copenhagen in 2009.
At 12:58, organizers quieted the crowd, and the usually noisy city — with its streets cleared of cars and buses but full of sign-carrying protestors — fell silent for a moment to honor those whose lives have already been affected by climate change. Then, at 1 p.m., the streets erupted as protestors with whistles, drums and horns “sounded the alarm” on the crisis.
Here are some photos from the Moyers & Company team.
Kelsey Juliana, an 18-year-old activist who is marching across America to raise awareness about global warming, reviewing some of the ribbons left by participants with testimonials of what they would miss if no action is taken to combat climate change. (Photo: Sikay Tang)
Many of New York’s usually busy thoroughfares were closed to car traffic for the march. (Photo: John Light)
Kelsey Julianna and her father Tim Ingalsbee observe a moment of silence in Times Square. (Photo: Sikay Tang)
A crowd of demonstrators at 72nd street “sounds the alarm” on climate change. (Photo: John Light)
From left to right: Oren Lyons, faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation, Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Tadodaho Sidney Hill, leader of the Onondaga nation. (Photo: Sikay Tang)
Demonstrators looking to participate in the march lined up along the west side of New York’s Central Park in a line that filled the four-lane street for over a mile and a half, from 59th street through 93rd street. (Photo: John Light)
A man holds a painting showing a wind turbine and reading “Hope.” (Photo: John Light)
After passing through Times Square, the protestors spilled out onto 11th Avenue, along the Hudson River, which was packed for blocks. (Photo: Joshua Holland)
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