More than 300,000 people turned out today for the People’s Climate March in New York City, making it the largest recorded demonstration calling for a response to climate change.
Organizers instructed marchers to line up to 86th Street, but the larger-than-expected attendance had some would-be marchers waiting on the side streets.
The march was one of several held today around the world, including a march in London that drew an estimated 40,000 people and one in Melbourne, Australia, where 10,000 demonstrated.
The events are being held to raise a voice for global action two days before the United Nations Climate Summit, where more than 120 world leaders will meet, beginning the work to draw up a new global climate treaty by the end of 2015.
The march began with a silent protest as thousands of marchers walked through Times Square with their fists in the air without making a sound.
Activists were organized into community groups and carried signs and chanted.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio were also among the marchers.
— source abcnews.go.com
Van Jones, former White House environmental adviser, celebrity activists like Mark Ruffalo and prominent community leaders like Mari Rose Taruc, a Filipina organizer from the Bay Area, prepared to lead nearly 30 blocks of jam-packed marchers through midtown Manhattan.
An official count conducted at the march showed over 310,000 participants — more than triple pre-march estimates of 100,000. Around the world, hundreds of thousands more joined 2,646 events in 156 countries.
Between 9:30 a.m. and noon, before the march started moving, Central Park West filled to capacity with supporters of action on both ends. Signs waved, drums beat, and cheers erupted. There were stickers and t-shirts and pamphlets. On one side of the marchers tall buildings lined the street, on the other the open space of Central Park cast a long, green reflection.
— source thinkprogress.org