Climate Marchers Converge on City Park
As marchers strode into Hagerstown City Park Sunday, chanting and waving signs, they were serenaded with a rousing version of This Land is Your Land. The Climate March, organized by Our Revolution-Western Maryland, drew more than 100 protesters, many of them carrying signs they took to the Climate March in Washington, D.C. the day before.
“One goal of the march is to raise awareness about environmental issues that directly affect Western Maryland, especially climate change,” said Adam Umak, chair of Our Revolution-Western Maryland in a press release. “These issues affect all aspects of Western Maryland life, from public health in cities and rural areas to tourism and business.”
Starting at Hagerstown’s Public Square at 12:30 p.m., the group wound its way to the bandshell at the city park. Singers Anna Grace and Joe Uehlein, founding president of the Labor Network for Sustainability, entertained as the group moved past vendor tables to their seats. The lineup of speakers included Congressman John Delaney (D-6th District), Brooke Harper, Maryland Outreach Coordinator for Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and Ben Jealous, former CEO of the NAACP. Kaitlyn Sumpter of Our Revolution-Western Maryland introduced the speakers.
Jealous and Rep. Delaney are rumored to be likely Democratic candidates for governor in 2018.
“I’m here to support local activists because this issue is really important to me,” Delaney said in an interview. “We are starting to make progress, but the President [Trump] doesn’t support us.”
He later told the crowd that clean energy and a healthy economy aren’t mutually exclusive, and that Americans don’t have to choose between a clean environment or jobs. Renewable energy, Rep. Delaney said, is the “economy of the future. We have to give non-fossil fuels a chance.”
Later, Brooke Harper, who was one of the lead coordinators in the Don’t Frack Maryland Coalition, took the stage to encourage people to get involved locally. “We will move backwards, not forward on the federal level. It’s time to make change on the state and local level,” the Hagerstown native said. The fracking ban was a result of working at the local level to make change in the state, Harper said in an interview. “People need to show up, and be present,” she said. [Photo above, Rep. John Delaney talks with marcher; below Brooke Harper addresses the crowd. Photos by Katherine Heerbrandt]
Wrapping up the day, Ben Jealous praised the young people who are “leading us in the right direction based on real issues that confront all our families.” Climate change, including drought and rising sea levels affects the planet’s poorest and most vulnerable, he said.
He urged those in attendance to stay vigilant and strong and not give up hope for change. “You’re beautiful, you’re powerful and you banned fracking!” he said.
Our Revolution is a grass-roots movement that’s dedicated to revitalization of American democracy, empowerment of progressive leaders in local communities and the elevation
of the political consciousness, according to its website. Our Revolution – Western Maryland encompasses Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties.
Randy Barber, a member and one of the organizers of the march said the group plans to solicit candidates and begin the endorsement process for the gubernatorial race by the end of summer.
To learn more, visit the Western Maryland Climate March on Facebook or visit here.
