Hundreds of thousands turn out in New York, other major cities for climate marches

By John Bowden - 09/20/19 02:51 PM EDT
 

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities around the world Friday to demand action from world governments on climate change.

Video of demonstrations in New York, San Francisco, Berlin and several other cities showed city streets teeming with protesters. Some estimates put the total attendance at strikes around the world in the millions.

ADVERTISEMENT

Berlin and New York each had crowds estimated at more than 100,000 each, while thousands also turned out in Austin, Texas, Raleigh, N.C., and Washington, D.C.

The demonstrations garnered large followings on social media as well, with #ClimateStrike topping the list of U.S. Twitter trends. Another hashtag used by the movement, #ClimateAction, was near the top of the list Friday afternoon.

Climate strikes also took place in Nairobi, Dublin, Islamabad, Mumbai and Melbourne, according to Mother Jones.

Democratic presidential candidates like former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenCNN's Anderson Cooper mocks WH press secretary over Fox News interview Yang cautions Democrats: Impeachment might not be 'successful' Ocasio-Cortez: Sanders' heart attack was a 'gut check' moment MORE, Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenTrump says his Doral resort will no longer host G-7 after backlash Ocasio-Cortez: Sanders' heart attack was a 'gut check' moment Ocasio-Cortez tweets endorsement of Sanders MORE (D-Mass.) and entrepreneur Andrew YangAndrew YangYang cautions Democrats: Impeachment might not be 'successful' Yang defends Gabbard: She 'deserves much more respect' Super PAC seeks to spend more than million supporting Yang MORE all offered messages of support to the protesters. Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersOcasio-Cortez: Sanders' heart attack was a 'gut check' moment Ocasio-Cortez tweets endorsement of Sanders Ocasio-Cortez throws support to Sanders at Queens rally MORE (I-Vt.), another White House hopeful, spoke at a climate strike rally in Greensboro, N.C.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who has led youth climate strikes across Europe, is slated to speak Friday at the New York City rally in Battery Park following her trip to Washington, where she sat with protesters on the steps of the Supreme Court.

"The preliminary numbers say there are at least 3 million people in today’s #ClimateStrike And that is before counting North and South America!! To be updated... #FridaysForFuture," she tweeted Friday.

Tags Austin New York City Washington D.C. Kenya Pakistan Ireland Elizabeth Warren Bernie Sanders Andrew Yang Joe Biden New York North Carolina Texas Climate change demonstrations Global warming