Last Sunday, hundreds of protesters of all ages marched from Old South Church to the Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment Memorial to commemorate “Sun Day,” a day of action for climate justice on Sept. 21. The event was conceived and organized by national progressive organization Third Act, with several local faith institutions, also known as the Boston Interfaith Climate Allies, coalescing to show their support. Protesters marched to the beat of jovial jazz music, donned bright yellow sun headbands, and toted signs in favor of renewable energy and environmentalism.
The assembly made several stops on its march, including at the Embrace, a memorial commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King in Boston Common.
At each stop, various faith leaders opened with a call and response chant—“peace be with you, sun be with you, wind be with you, power be with you.”
One speaker, Elizabeth Solomon, who represents the Massachusetts Tribe told the crowd the goal of the gathering was to make the issue of climate change a priority, not just a passing thought.
“The only way we can permanently address the challenges we’re facing now is by changing the way we individually and collectively interact with this earth,” she said.
Remarks included a prayer proclamation from Pope Francis, which encourages worshippers to “sow beauty and production, not destruction.” Some attendees also took to the microphone to sing songs like “Let it shine,” and “You are my sunshine,” while others wore call-to-action signs from their necks that read “There is no Planet B,” and “Sunlight is from heaven; fire is from hell,” highlighting the strong roots of faith in march.
The event is one of 500+ of its kind across the country and world to “pray with their feet,” as one organizer put it, and march for environmental justice.
