New York City– An immense gathering of climate activists descended upon the streets of New York City on Sunday in a resounding “March to End Fossil Fuels.” Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), in a passionate address to the crowd, emphasized the imperative for this movement to evolve into a force “too substantial and too radical to be disregarded.”
The progressive Democrat received resounding cheers as she decried the continued authorization of fossil fuel ventures in the United States, notably the contentious Willow project in Alaska, sanctioned earlier this year by the Biden administration.
“Our collective purpose here is singular: the cessation of fossil fuel dominance across the globe,” asserted Ocasio-Cortez at a rally marking the culmination of the march, strategically located near the UN headquarters, where global leaders are converging this week. She underscored the urgency of mobilizing people worldwide to galvanize change, stating, “The key to urgency lies in mobilizing the masses across the globe.”
Ocasio-Cortez added, “The United States continues to greenlight an unprecedented number of fossil fuel leases, and it falls upon us to send a resounding message today.” Despite record profits, she noted that support for the fossil fuel industry was showing signs of vulnerability.
She argued that confronting the climate crisis necessitates a profound restructuring of the economy, emphasizing, “Our path forward does not entail replacing oil barons with solar barons.”
Organizers estimated the march’s attendance at between 50,000 and 75,000 individuals in Manhattan, anticipating it to be the most extensive climate march in the United States in the last half-decade. The NYPD refrained from commenting on crowd size.
Jean Su, representing the Center for Biological Diversity and instrumental in coordinating the mobilization, commented, “This is a remarkable moment. Tens of thousands are taking to the streets of New York, unified by their demand for climate action and their recognition that President Biden’s expansion of fossil fuels imperils our final opportunity to avert a climate catastrophe.”
She also highlighted that this action constituted the largest climate protest in the U.S. since the onset of the pandemic.
As world leaders convene for the UN General Assembly and a UN climate ambition summit this week, pressure mounts for concrete climate commitments. However, President Biden’s absence from the UN climate ambition summit drew criticism from climate activists, who insist that this is the moment for global leadership on the climate crisis.
During the march, Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus likened the current climate movement to the U.S. struggle for racial justice, dubbing it “our lunch counter moment for the 21st century.” Indigenous leaders and youth climate activist Vanessa Nakate from Uganda emphasized the imperative of climate justice and inclusivity.
Prominent actor and climate activist Susan Sarandon commended the students of New York University for divesting from fossil fuels, declaring, “You guys give me hope,” and urged collective responsibility and pressure on those in power.
Veteran environmental activist Bill McKibben noted the significance of this march as a reinvigoration of the climate movement after the pandemic hiatus, with a diverse crowd reflecting the vibrancy of New York City.
Over 650 climate actions took place globally earlier this week, including activists in Berlin, Germany, painting the Brandenburg Gate with orange paint.
Youth-led organizations, including Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future, played pivotal roles in orchestrating these mobilizations.
Additional climate protests are scheduled throughout the upcoming week, including a gathering at New York City’s Zuccotti Park on Monday morning.
