Climate-march.jpg

A national climate sister march will occur in Springfield on Saturday, April 29.

(Arise for Social Justice)

SPRINGFIELD - A march for "Climate, Jobs, and Justice" will take place in Springfield on Saturday, April 29, and will celebrate local efforts to mitigate the effects of global climate change.

The march, which is being sponsored by the local Springfield Climate Justice Coalition and Climate Action Now, will also support a call for further action by local leaders and officials to "reduce pollution, improve public health, and create jobs."

The march is being called a "sister march" to the much larger "People's Climate Movement" march being held in Washington D.C., on the same day--which hopes to call attention to a need for federal action to mitigate the effects of global climate change.

"We are proud of the work being done locally to improve public health and reduce pollution," said Michaelann Bewsee from the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition, in a statement regarding the march. "But there is still more work to be done, and in the wake of this deeply concerning national political atmosphere, we want to bring people together to celebrate the local work, push forward statewide change and demand accountability from the local, state, and federal government," Bewsee said.

The march is being co-sponsored by more than 30 other western Massachusetts community, activist, and labor organizations.

People wishing to participate in the march should appear at the Federal Courthouse on State Street in Springfield at 3:00 p.m. The march is scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM. Marchers will make their way to Springfield City Hall, where a rally will be held.