Copy-Thousands brave weather to protest Trump climate policies

Thousands of people across the country are marking President Donald Trump's hundredth day in office by marching in protest of his environmental policies.

News 12 Staff

Apr 30, 2017, 3:13 AM

Updated 2,559 days ago

Share:

Copy-Thousands brave weather to protest Trump climate policies
SEATTLE (AP) - Thousands of people across the U.S. marched in rain, snow and sweltering heat Saturday to demand action on climate change - mass protests that coincided with President Donald Trump's 100th day in office and took aim at his agenda for rolling back environmental protections.
At the marquee event, the Peoples Climate March in Washington, D.C., tens of thousands of demonstrators made their way down Pennsylvania Avenue on their way to encircle the White House as temperatures soared into the 90s.
Organizers said about 300 sister marches or rallies were being held around the country, including in Seattle, Boston and San Francisco. A wet spring snow fell in Denver, where several hundred activists posed in the shape of a giant thermometer for a photograph and a dozen people rode stationary bikes to power the loudspeakers. In Chicago, a rain-soaked crowd of thousands headed from the city's federal plaza to Trump Tower.
"We are here because there is no Planet B," the Rev. Mariama White-Hammond of Bethel AME Church told a rally in Boston.
The demonstrations came one week after supporters of science gathered in 600 cities around the globe, alarmed by political and public rejection of established research on topics including climate change and the safety of vaccines.
Participants Saturday said they object to Trump's rollback of restrictions on mining, oil drilling and greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants, among other things. Trump has called climate change a hoax, disputing the overwhelming consensus of scientists that the world is warming and that man-made carbon emissions are primarily to blame.
Among those attending the Chicago rally were members of the union representing Environmental Protection Agency employees. Trump has proposed cutting the EPA's budget by almost one-third, eliminating more than 3,000 jobs.
John O'Grady, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, called the march "a chance to speak out in unity against this administration" and its "ridiculous gutting of the EPA budget and staffing."
More than 2,000 people gathered at the Maine State House in Augusta. Speakers included a lobsterman, a solar company owner and members of the Penobscot Nation tribe.
"I've seen firsthand the impacts of climate change to not only the Gulf of Maine, but also to our evolving fisheries, and to the coastal communities that depend upon them," said lobsterman Richard Nelson of Friendship, Maine.
People in the crowd spoke about the importance of addressing climate change to industries such as renewable energy, forestry, farming and seafood. Saharlah Farah, a 16-year old immigrant from Somalia who lives in Portland, talked about how climate change could have a bigger toll on marginalized groups that have less financial resources.
"But I see untapped power here today," she said.
A demonstration stretched for several blocks in downtown Tampa, Florida, where marchers said they were concerned about the threat rising seas pose to the city.
People gathered on the Boston Common carried signs with slogans such as "Dump Trump." Handmade signs at Seattle's march included the general - "Love Life" - and the specific - "Don't Kill Otters."
Some of the marches drew big-name attendees, including former Vice President Al Gore and actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the nation's capital. In Montpelier, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called the marches part of a fight for the future of the planet.
"Honored to join Indigenous leaders and native peoples as they fight for climate justice," DiCaprio tweeted.
___
Associated Press writers Sara Burnett in Chicago; Colleen Slevin in Denver; Wilson Ring in Montpelier, Vermont; and Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


More from News 12
2:46
SBU officials: 29 people arrested on campus as students hold pro-Palestinian protest

SBU officials: 29 people arrested on campus as students hold pro-Palestinian protest

3:35
Warm temps today ahead of some wet weather for the weekend

Warm temps today ahead of some wet weather for the weekend

1:03
Long Island Game Farm responds to USDA report on Bobo the giraffe's cause of death

Long Island Game Farm responds to USDA report on Bobo the giraffe's cause of death

1:55
Runners are lacing up for the Long Island Marathon Sunday. Click here to see which roads will close to traffic

Runners are lacing up for the Long Island Marathon Sunday. Click here to see which roads will close to traffic

0:23
3 Long Island health care providers earn highest safety rating on Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

3 Long Island health care providers earn highest safety rating on Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

0:35
Mets foundation partners with America's Vet Dogs to raise future service dog

Mets foundation partners with America's Vet Dogs to raise future service dog

1:54
Find the perfect dining spot on the Nautical Mile in Freeport

Find the perfect dining spot on the Nautical Mile in Freeport

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

0:25
Suffolk police: Plane lands safely on Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai

Suffolk police: Plane lands safely on Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai

1:37
Public hearing held on Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital's filing for additional parking

Public hearing held on Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital's filing for additional parking

1:21
DEC: 2 additional 'anomalies' found under baseball field at Bethpage Community Park

DEC: 2 additional 'anomalies' found under baseball field at Bethpage Community Park

2:05
'He didn't care about the consequences.’ Man pleads guilty to East Massapequa crash that killed 4

'He didn't care about the consequences.’ Man pleads guilty to East Massapequa crash that killed 4

0:13
School officials: Cyberattack causes internet, phone outage at Mineola Public Schools

School officials: Cyberattack causes internet, phone outage at Mineola Public Schools

1:51
Students like food, not prices, from food trucks brought in by NCC following dining services closure

Students like food, not prices, from food trucks brought in by NCC following dining services closure

0:32
Prosecutors: Shirley woman sold misbranded, adulterated weight loss drugs on TikTok

Prosecutors: Shirley woman sold misbranded, adulterated weight loss drugs on TikTok

0:26
Mets partner with Smithtown nonprofit to raise future service dog for veteran or first responder

Mets partner with Smithtown nonprofit to raise future service dog for veteran or first responder

0:24
Man, woman wanted for stealing wallet in Huntington Station

Man, woman wanted for stealing wallet in Huntington Station

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

2:27
Town of Hempstead IDA holds hearing on Hillcrest of Floral Park apartments

Town of Hempstead IDA holds hearing on Hillcrest of Floral Park apartments