Sounds of prayer and calls for action filled City Hall this afternoon as thousands gathered to March for a Clean Energy Revolution.
The march started at City Hall this afternoon. Activists walked a mile East, down Market Street, and ended at Independence Hall. That portion of Market Street was closed throughout the duration of the march.
Activists from Citizens for Local Power and Clean Energy Action joined dozens of other organizations at the march and they carted people from all over the nation. Some, like Melissa Goshe, came all the way from Cleveland, Ohio. Gosche, like other supporters, is calling for institutions to focus on the environment, not just their profits. “We’re stuck using fossil fuels and we know the reason, right? It’s money,” she said.
Marchers are also calling for a ban on fracking, a halt to fossil fuel expansion and move to create environmental justice for all, according to the Clean Energy March website. They chanted “keep it in the ground,” as they held signs that said “end fracking now” and “don’t frack with our health.”
The march was convened by Americans Against Fracking and Pennsylvanians Against Fracking. The two organizations led the pack of marchers, but each activist said they still had their own views to get across to politicians.
“We need to stop the TTP. We need to stop fracking” says Simonetta Jean from New Jersey.
“Our planet and our species is on the brink of extinction,” said Paco Maribona. He thinks this cause will encourage unity, despite a marginalized political atmosphere. “This is what I think will bring us together, saving the planet,” he added.
Some advocates say this unity is one of the first steps towards change. “We have to march with everyone, with every group, we only have power in unity,” says Jean. They also say that environmental change is possible, especially while the Democratic National Convention is here in Philadelphia. “There’s so many people here and so many people are watching on the media,” says Maribona.
Activists say they hope to gain attention from more than just the media. “Let’s get the attention of the politicians,” John Whitpeck said .
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