The Peoples Climate March on April 29th was a great experience and started on Amtrak from Philadelphia and a short walk to the rendezvous spot for Sierra Club. It was a sunny warm spring day and the turnout was huge.
The signs were amazing and it was heartening to see and meet so many people who share my concern for the climate crisis and the urgency of the problem particularly given the state of politics in Washington now. The walk took some stamina because the sun was hot and it was more standing and waiting for the procession to move than it was actually walking, which was not a particularly long walk, but the conversation with folks from around the country was a great way to fill in the time.
When we passed the Trump hotel the crowd started chanting "shame, shame!" and I agree. After the walk we were treated with moving presentations and singing from Native American people who have been on the front lines of water protection at Dakota Access for example. They were called the water protectors leading a chorus of “Water is Life” and I was proud to stand with them there at the Washington Monument.
Afterwards I strolled down to the Elipse and noticed that Marine One was idling behind the White House with people standing around the helicopter. After a few minutes, Marine One with Trump on board flew directly over our heads on its way to Harrisburg for the presentation there.
Trump, if he looked out the window, would be treated to a site of thousands of protesters swarming the Washington Monument and surrounding area and hopefully he had a clue why were there.
Matt MacConnell is the Vice Chair of the Lehigh Valley group and the Co-Chair of the Legacy Issues Committee.