For Immediate Release: September 16, 2014

Whistle Stop Rally at Union Station to Celebrate Colorado Climate Delegation

Dozens of Coloradans riding People’s Climate Train and bus to historic climate march in New York City

DENVER, CO— More than 40 Coloradans either hopped aboard the People’s Climate Train today for a two-day cross-country trip or are riding a chartered bus en route to what’s expected to be the largest demonstration in the history of the climate movement this Sunday in New York City – The People’s Climate March. Organizers anticipate 200,000 or more participants at the march. 

The Whistle Stop Rally was organized to celebrate and show support for the Colorado delegation of more than 40 individuals travelling to the March. The Whistle Stop Rally, which took place in front of the recently renovated historic Union Station from 6-7PM, featured participants dressed in blue and green, singing, waving Earth flags, playing kuzoos and listening to activists from the west coast and Colorado speaking about their motivations for attending the climate march.

Whistle Stop Rally speakers included youth leaders, student Fossil Free divestment organizers, ministers, Native American and NAACP activists, 350 Colorado board members, Climate Train organizers and more. The event was cosponsored by 350 Colorado, Center for Biological Diversity, Eco-Justice Ministries, Clean Energy Action, Protect Our Loveland, Fossil Free CU, Fossil Free Denver, Food and Water Watch, Sierra Club, What the Frack? Arapahoe, Sierra Club, and Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center.

“We are gathering to send our friends to the March with our blessings, and to commit ourselves to acting on climate change in every way we can.”  Rev. Peter Sawtell

The People’s Climate Marchers are taking to the streets Sunday to call on world leaders attending the United Nations Summit on the climate crisis to take action, demanding “a world with an economy that works for people and the planet, a world safe from the ravages of climate change, and a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities”. UN Secretary­ General Ban Ki-­moon is urging governments to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce global warming pollution.

“I’m attending the People’s Climate March because I believe in the power of people – that we have the collective power to take back our country and our Earth; to rewrite the future that we choose, not one that is chosen for us by corporate power and political might,” said 350 Board Member Katie Falkeberg, who is riding the train to the march. “I believe the time for us to exercise our power is now.” 

About 170 people — including nuns, ministers, tribal leaders and student activists — will ride the People’s Climate Train, which departed Emeryville, CA, Monday morning and was organized by the Center for Biological Diversity.  Riders will participate in workshops, discussions and activist trainings as the train passes through lands threatened by the climate crisis.  The train will stop and pick up more climate riders in Reno, Denver, Salt Lake City, Omaha and Chicago. The train arrives in New York on Thursday.

 “It’s really inspiring to see so many people climbing aboard this train united in a call for action on global warming,” said the Center’s Valerie Love. “In one way or another, the climate crisis will touch every corner of this country. People know now that if we don’t act soon, we’ll see more heat waves, rising seas and disastrous storms. We have a chance to change the course of history.”

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Photos will be posted after the event available to the press at https://www.facebook.com/events/709263202461721/

For more info, visit http://350colorado.org/join-us-for-a-whistle-stop-rally-ride-the-climate-train-to-the-peoples-climate-march-in-nyc/