New Yorkers rally for ‘climate, jobs, justice’

By Madeleine Thompson

It’s a scene the country is more familiar with each day: crowds of people with homemade signs, chanting loudly for or against one cause or another.

Several hundred climate activists and New Yorkers gathered at the New York Society for Ethical Culture last week to do just that. Co-organized by groups such as the Peoples Climate March, Transform Don’t Trash NYC and the Working Families Party, the event featured Public Advocate Letitia James and Comptroller Scott Stringer, who gave brief speeches and answered questions from a panel of activists.

“This is one important step in moving our city to do what must be done to solve the climate crisis and to link that struggle to the struggles for jobs and justice,” Leslie Cagan, who is on the board of the Peoples Climate Movement New York, told the crowd at the May 16 event. Brian Ellis-Gibbs, a pastor at the Queens Baptist Church, described the focus of the evening as centering on “divesting and reinvesting, climate works for all and transform don’t trash.”

James took the stage soon after Ellis-Gibbs’ introduction to criticize President Donald Trump’s approach to environmental policy and to reinforce her commitment to reducing citywide emissions by 80 percent by 2050. “We have an obligation, despite the fact that the federal government is turning its back,” she said. “I am committed to all of you in this room to making sure that we address and improve our climate. For me the most important thing is that our children be able to breathe.”

Later, Stringer directed criticism at the recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. “We saw devastation, no resiliency, no plan to help people,” he said. “Basically a bunch of consultants being paid by other consultants dictated that effort to recover and rebound. We can’t be in that position anymore. We have to invest in our resiliency in our communities and we have to stop doing piecemeal work.” He was heckled mildly for a comment about coal miners losing their jobs, but garnered applause for his support of the “Climate Works for All” plan to reduce emissions, create sustainable jobs and invest in protection against climate change.

Mayor Bill de Blasio was also invited to the rally but didn’t show. His schedule showed a conflicting town hall in Brooklyn at the same time, but his absence was noticed with some attendees voicing their disappointment on Twitter. “It’s an election year Mayor,” wrote a user with the name Paul Rothman. “You have to earn the votes.” Another wondered, in jest, if de Blasio had lost his invitation.

Dotting the audience were signs advocating for the use of wind power and asking the city to divest from “dirty energy.” No action was taken, but similar events and marches that have taken place over the past few months have shown the efficacy of demonstration. The rally certainly demonstrated that interest in a greener, cleaner New York City runs high.

Madeleine Thompson can be reached at newsreporter@strausnews.com