Capitol Climate Action Protesters Shut Down the Capitol Coal Plant

Thousands of people from all over the world rallied in Washington DC on Monday to protest the continued use of fossil fuels in the U.S. Capitol.

Stepping into the cold Washington air from the Capitol South Metro, the sound of the crowd, two blocks away in front of the Capitol Building, was overwhelming. This wasn’t just a band of protesters, this was a world wide movement initiated by Capitol Climate Action.

The 99-year-old Capitol Hill Power Plant that we marched around, is responsible for an estimated one-third of the legislative branch’s greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes the most pollution in the District of Columbia.

Environmental and climate celebrities led the protest action, including NASA climatologist Dr. James Hansen,  “We want the Congress and the President to take the actions that are needed to preserve climate for young people and future generations and all life on the planet.”

Bruce Nilles, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, said, “Stopping the use of coal at the Capitol Power Plant will help local residents breathe easier, but the positive impacts will stretch far beyond the District. Bold measures are needed right now to reduce global warming emissions and we look forward to continuing to work with Congress and the new administration to send a clear signal to cities and states across the country that after eight long years, America is serious about clean energy and green jobs.”

Four rally points were set up and each group was given a police escort around the power plant.

Capitol Climate Action endorsed a peaceful protest, and as we marched around the plant, blocking entrances, the chants of “Support the workers, not the plant” and “What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like!”, could be heard from blocks away.

The feel and temperament of the 2 to 3 thousand strong group was uplifting and organic. It seemed to me that this group consisted of and “every man” philosophy. A group of strangers, come together from the world over to lift their voices in democratic harmony and declare that we need to move toward a future that consists of renewable and sustainable power sources.

The media was in abundance, with news crews filming and photographing the event. I heard stories from the men and women who live in Appalachia and whose lands and lives have been destroyed by mountain top mining.

I spoke to one elderly woman who was marching for her 82 year old husband in the 25 degree weather, because he suffers from asthma due to a coal fired power plant near them. He could not be there for the march, so together we walked in solidarity.

One thing that I brought home with me from this action, is a very simple statement that I overheard one woman tell another.  I don’t know what the context of the conversation was, but the statement was;

Nobody, has the right to pollute.

For all of our readers who supported us in this action, we thank you. Together, we have once again proven that when we stand together, we can and do, make change happen.

Adam Shake

Related posts:

1. Action Day Saturday- Protesters Dump 5 Tons of Coal In Front of Coal Conference (Video)
2. Photo Journal of the US Capitol Powerplant Protest
3. Victory! Twilight Earth and Thousands of Others Stood Up to Say NO COAL, and Won!