Today in Bristol was the much anticipated Climate Strike, which was part of the global protests across the world. The day started with huge events as the sun rose, for example in Australia but also in places you might not expect it such as Pakistan. So when it came for Bristol’s turn – would the numbers be there to show the city cared? Oh-boy-they-were. Getting numbers is hard, but there were thousands – we’ve heard numbers from 5,000 to 20,000.

We.. are.. marching.. in.. our.. thousands.. pic.twitter.com/051Pvo1n0H — Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate (@bristolYS4C) September 20, 2019

When the head of the march was well into Broadmead, the end of the march was only just leaving Collage Green. Speaking to people who’ve been to a range of protests in the city from the Iraq war in the early 00s to anti-austerity to anti-Brexit and the consensus was this was the biggest protest in recent memory. Looking at the diverse crowd there were school kids, workers, students, mums, days, babies, anarchists, cyclists, environmentalists, socialists and many, many more. The crowd was good-natured and as it took over the streets – even working to allow a bus to pass which had a person inside who needed to get to the hospital.

A woman got off the bus complaining that she needed to visit someone in hospital. Despite her hurling of profanities, the crowd decided to pick up and let the bus past. Fight hate with love. #ExpectResistance #ClimateStrike #ClimateAction@bristolYS4C @BristolCouncil @bristolYS4C pic.twitter.com/W6R7Pyj1YO — Benedict 🌿 (@BenFurness) September 20, 2019

In the recent European elections, the results of the city took a sharp turn to the Greens – so there was clearly people (and speeches) from all three of the cities progressive partiers – Labour, Green and Lib Dems. It is interesting to note how much all three now push climate action as central whereas before one did really. This does feel like a tipping point on climate – and notable the Tory and Brexit party are the parties of denial.

The very same people who bankrolled Brexit deny Climate Change, so #ClimateStrike #StopBrexit pic.twitter.com/J5Y3tujSiy — LibDemFightBack #FBPE #StopBrexit (@libdemfightbac) September 20, 2019

The power here was in the people – the many, many, many people asking for action and showing by its numbers that the will of the people is asking for a cleaner today and a liveable tomorrow. Oh and kudos to the organisers! (and credit here for the header image)