From Mark Richer, an organizer of the Virginia Climate Rally
This Saturday (April 29) at 10:30 a.m., Virginians from all over the Commonwealth will rally across the street from Union Station in Washington, DC, to voice support for programs and policies to promote renewable energy and create green jobs, safeguard the state’s lands and waterways from the effects of climate change, and protect the state’s most vulnerable human and wildlife communities.
Following the rally, attendees will participate in the Peoples Climate March (PCM), which will kick off at 12:30 p.m. and culminate about 3 p.m. with activists surrounding the White House to demand effective climate policies, environmental justice, and green jobs. The PCM is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people, with 250 sister marches planned across the country and the world.
The Virginia Climate Rally is organized by several progressive groups in Virginia, including 350 Alexandria, Mt. Vernon Area MARCH ON!, Mount Vernon-Lee Indivisible, the Virginia Young Democrats, and Our Revolution.
The Rally speakers include Virginia State Delegate Marcus Simon (53rd District); Ken Boddye, a candidate for Delegate in Virginia’s 51st District; Elizabeth Guzman, candidate for Delegate in Virginia’s 31st District; Elizabeth Perriello, on behalf of the campaign for Tom Perriello for Governor of Virginia; Sara Cobb, Director of the Center for Narrative and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University; Jerry Casagrande, a local filmmaker; Jim Lewis, President of the Virginia Young Democrats; and others.
In addition to organizing the Rally, the organizing entities are working daily to promote policies and initiatives that encourage the elimination of fossil fuels and their replacement with renewable energy.
The Virginia Climate Rally is open to all. Invitations have been extended to environmental and grassroots groups throughout the Commonwealth including 350.org and Indivisible groups, Virginia Young Democrats, and other progressive groups. All the riders on the 35+ buses from all over Virginia, organized by Peoples Climate Movement, have been invited using the event email list and website.
More information on this event: https://facebook.com/