175 rally to support climate, jobs and justice

WEST CHESTER » Voices and protest signs were raised at the historic courthouse during a rally and march to support the environment, Saturday afternoon.

Rain threatened, but none fell, during a 70-minute rally attended by about 175 environmental activists.

The event was one of about 250 similar marches and rallies nationwide recognizing a national day of action and the “Rise of Climate, Jobs and Justice.” The central rally was held in San Francisco where the Global Climate Action Summit starts on Sept. 12.

Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum told the lively audience from the courthouse steps that the public should demand justice for the environment. She said that corporations and elected officials are committing violence against the environment.

“There are real victims gathered here because of injustice,” van Rossum said. “Environmental violence takes many forms.

“Industries of all kinds have lobbyists that pay for efforts to weaken environmental laws.”

van Rossum said that life can seem so bleak.

“But it’s not bleak because you and I know we’re here to change all of this. We will hold government and industry accountable when they inflict harm.”

Saira Salyani is a Great Valley

High School senior and is too young to vote.

“It’s more than voting, it’s making your voice heard,” Salyani told the demonstrators. “Democracies don’t work until all citizens participate.

“Our age isn’t relevant, consider the different ways we can trade apathy and take action.”

The high schooler said that the upcoming November election is the most important in decades.

“We all have responsibility for our generation and the next,” she said.

Sheila Burke led several chants.

“Clean water, clean air, we’re alive, we care,” and “Climate change, it’s real, it’s now” and “Hey, hey, no spraying,” rang out from nearly a couple hundred unified voices.

Mayor Dianne Herrin said that the world needs a clean energy revolution, rather than turning the planet into a “pressure cooker” for our children.

“We know we have a problem and that problem is climate change,” Herrin said. “The clean energy revolution is happening right now and right here.”

Rev. Kyle J. Boyer is a local minister and educator.

He called for justice, mercy, care, compassion, righteous indignation and proper stewardship.

“We need to take action and we need to take action today,” Boyer said. “What kind of condition will we have left the earth in?”

Former Mayor Jordan Norley introduced the speakers.

“It’s amazing that these days we have to figure out facts and science,” Norley said. “How did science become political?”

Vince Moro is with Neighbors for Crebilly, a grass roots organization opposed to plans for a 300home subdivision in Westtown Township.

“Think ahead people,” he said. “The power is right here—it’s the people.”

Silvia Martinez Uribe was born in Mexico and is an educator and Reiki instructor. She said that corporations are thinking of profit and loss.

“It’s our right and duty to raise our voices,” she said.

George Alexander represented Del-Chesco United for Pipeline Safety and is a popular author.

The crowd loudly responded to his questions of whether we need more plastic, more air pollution and more dangerous pipelines with a chorus of boos.

Sgt. Gerald Brown, Vietnam veteran and poet, was awarded the Purple Heart three times.

“I fought in Vietnam and now I’m fighting here,” he said. “Everyone is fighting… for clean air and to stop what the government is doing to us now.”

The ralliers marched to Everhart Park where members of several organizations answered questions and handed out literature.

BILL RETTEW-DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA These people attended the rally in West Chester in support of climate, jobs and justice.