On Sunday, September 21, 2014 over 400,000 people assembled in New York City for the People’s Climate March. In the run up to the march, news stories estimated number of attendees around 100,000. Within a couple of days before the march, this number was upped to 200,000. 
People came on buses, trains, subways, bikes and by foot on the morning of September 21. We initially heard over 400 buses were expected; by the time we reached the starting point of the march we were hearing over 550 buses were arriving.
As the day passed we heard CNN reported that it was impossible to estimate the size of the crowd. Other media conservatively stated tens of thousands. The largest number has been estimated at over 400,000.
How big was the march? As the day passed we heard CNN reported that it was impossible to estimate the size of the crowd. Other media conservatively stated tens of thousands. The largest number has been estimated at over 400,000. 
The march was so well attended that organizers had to send a text at 5 p.m., asking marchers to leave because the route had filled to capacity. Keep in mind people had already been marching for about 4 hours along the two mile route.
Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or over 400,000 the numbers seem to leaning to conservative estimates.
UNIFYING MESSAGES
People came from all of the United States with their concerns from the melting icecaps of the Arctic, impact on their communities by rising ocean levels, devastation from bigger and stronger storms, fossil fuel extraction, CO2 emissions, effect on health and the list goes on.
Despite individual concerns all are connected and cannot be looked at as one specific cause or effect of climate change. We are all downstream and downwind and we are all feeling the effects of Climate Change.
The Debate is Over.
One of the most moving point during the march was the moment of silence. At 1pm people were asked to be silent in memory of those who have died or have felt the immediate consequences of climate change. As we stood in the streets, you could hear the sounds of drums, bullhorns and the voices of thousands of people fall silent.
For one minute all that could be heard was traffic located several blocks away from the march area. For one minute we stood with our hands in the air and in awe of the silence.
Then there was a roar of voices spread down through the crowds. 400,000 voices declared the Debate was over and time for action had begun.
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now was on hand, providing live coverage of the march. (Click here to watch).
Climate change is real and it’s happening now.
What is not over is the millions of dollars being spent by corporations, from fossil fuel corporations and bankers to the billionaires and other special interests to convince people and buy politicians that there is no such thing as climate change.
They may have the money to buy the media and politicians, but we have the numbers and each number means a vote and a voice. What we lack is the political will to stop this world wide crisis.
We have a government of the people, and we the people need to take responsibility. Like the roar of voices that ripples through the street so New York City, we need to have that roar ripple through every community, every county, every state and every county. We need that roar of action to shake the world.
© 2014 by Dory Hippauf


{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
All I can say is AMAZING! Now, divest in fossil fuels and move to renewables.