The Houston People’s Climate March was held on April 29, 2017, at Clinton Park located just outside of the 610 East Loop in Houston. It was estimated that there were between 400 to 500 people in attendance. There were speeches by Mayor Sylvester Turner, Dr. Daniel Cohan of Rice University and others. Mayor Turner gave an inspirational speech. There were other activities for the participants – chalk drawings for the kids; a kids playground; tabling by the Sierra Club and others; a solar panel display by member Bill Swann; music, an environmental art car, and a march around the park with numerous signs, banners, and even parachutes. The Parks Department provided three Park Rangers for traffic control and security without charge, and they did a really great job. There was great comeradery among the participants, and a good time was had by all. The event was a success.
The Sierra Club was both a sponsor of the event and participated in the planning and supply of logistics. Water was supplied by member George Batten using Sierra Club equipment, and Madeleine Crozat Williams, Elizabeth Spike, and Jim Williams represented the Sierra Club in the planning phase. Other participating/sponsoring organizations included Public Citizen, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (T.E.J.A.S.), Air Alliance Houston, Houston Peace and Justice Center (H.P.J.C.), CodePink, Pantsuit Republic, Unitarian Universalist Association, Texas Drought Project, Houston Stands with Standing Rock, Texas Campaign for the Environment, 350.org, Pat Greer’s Kitchen, Climate Action Team at First Unitarian Universalist Church, and NO! IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT A FASCIST AMERICA.
The People’s Climate March stressed environmental justice, and the organizers wanted to have the event on the eastside in our environmentally polluted frontline communities. Milby Park on Highway 225 would have fit the bill better than Clinton Park. But our late attempt to get a permit for Milby was unsuccessful, and the venue was changed to Clinton Park. Clinton Park was a large enough park and on the polluted eastside, but it was not where the public could see and understand the challenges of living under the shadow of chemical plants and oil refineries.
The People’s Climate March will continue again next year, and the group has already begun planning for it. More volunteers are needed. If you would like to participate in next year’s event, please contact Jim Williams at ezz@pdq.net.
