Santa Barbara joins nationwide march calling for action on climate change

Santa Barbara protesters joined the People’s Climate March which took place in hundreds of cities and in the nation’s capital on Saturday.

Nearly one thousand people supporting action on climate change sat in the baking sun at La Playa Stadium at Santa Barbara City College.

The event was organized by a coalition of environmentalists, youth, workers, faith community, indigenous voices, business partners and local political activists led by Community Environmental Council, Environmental Defense Center, NextGen Climate, Sierra Club, and World Business Academy.

Sister marches took place in hundreds of cities across the country, including Ventura County and Santa Barbara County.

The event in Santa Barbara began with a traditional Chumash prayer and blessing.

Owen Bailey from the Environmental Defense Center roused the crowd with news of President Trump’s proposed oil drilling on the California coast. The crowd responded with a chorus of boos.

Former Vice President Al Gore’s daughter Sarah, read a statement from her dad.

Durga Andre, a soon-to-be grandmother at the march said the future isn’t really about her anymore but about her children and grandchildren.

“We have to have something to leave them, a place to live, a place to breathe,” Andre said.

The People’s Climate Marches coincided with President Trump’s 100th day in office.

Protesters say they want to raise their voice against Trump’s policies and rollbacks on environmental protections

“I weep for the Earth. I weep for what we’ve done. It may not be real visible here but it may be real soon if something doesn’t turn around.”

Before taking to the streets, the crowd formed a human sign with colored cards which read “100 percent clean energy.”

The hope is that the message will spread.