Demonstrators Take To Streets Calling Out ‘Climate Change Deniers’

One by one through sub-freezing temperatures, about 160 concerned citizens held signs and walked down State Street in Newtown Borough after dark Monday to protest President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks who oppose global climate change.

“Climate deniers are liars,” the demonstrators yelled as they gathered at the corner of State and East Centre streets.

While many passerbys in their fossil-fuel burning cars honked in support of the demonstrators, a few did engage the marchers.

“What type of car do you drive?” one man yelled the demonstrators.

The man also publicly questioned the validity of scientific reach search that activists say proves climate change is caused by humans.

“It’s 20 degrees,” another motorist yelled at the demonstrators.

“This isn’t called global warming,” a woman politely yelled back.

Organizers said the event encouraged residents to call on Pennsylvania senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey to vote against Trump’s cabinet appointees including: Scott Pruitt as Environmental Protection Agency administrator, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, Rick Perry as Department of Energy secretary, and Ryan Zinke as Secretary of the Interior. The group felt their views on climate change were not compatible with science.

The Newtown event was one of more than 50 similar demonstrations planned around the nation.

Before the march, the large group met at Newtown Friends on Court Street to hear from climate change expert Donald Brown, who has poured over research and even taken part in writing reports on the subject matter.

Despite the predictions of doom and gloom and limited reporting in the press, almost every country on the planet is taking part in plans to reduce carbon emissions over the next 100 years, Brown said, adding it was something activists should be happy about.

Brown said moving to a carbon neutral country over the next 100 years is important to help the environment. Having leaders who deny climate change in the president-elect’s cabinet will likely hamper efforts to make America a zero emissions country sooner rather than later.

As temperatures change, oceans rise and storms intensify due to climate change, Brown said, the people most likely to feel the impacts would likely be the poor.

Brown told the crowd it was important to make their voices heard to lawmakers in Harrisburg and Washington D.C., adding there is great importance to working to curb climate change.

“It’s up to you to convince and shame (lawmakers) into being leaders,” Steve Cickay, one of the rally organizers, told the crowd.

David Meiser, a Pipersville resident and scientist, explained that the rally was not about protesting Trump’s White House victory but to voicing concern over his cabinet picks and letting lawmakers know climate change is an important issue.

“I’m amazed with the turnout here with just a few days notice on social media,” Meiser said of the rally. “This is good.”