Step It Update: Congress Hears Our Message! « It’s Getting Hot In Here

Fresno California Steps It Up
The big day is here! It’s just morning here on the East Coast and already pictures are beginning to stream in from around the country. And it looks amazing.

Step It Up has already exceeded every one of our expectations thus far and today is no exception. It’s impossible to tell how many people are involved in a distributed action like this, but we’re confident that if we brought us all together it would be enough to fill the Washington Mall three or four times over.

But instead, we are everywhere across America. Late last night, we got a report of over 500 people demonstrating in New Orleans where participants spelled out “Step It Up” with their bodies. A photo came in from Belfast, ME early this morning from a contra dance the night before: a large “Step It Up” banner was hung over the band. Today, we’re beginning to get photos from Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and more.

And our message is already being heard by elected officials!In an official press release, Vermont Congressman Peter Welch says:

“The activism demonstrated by Step It Up events across Vermont and the nation serves as an inspiration for me and a reminder to elected leaders around the country that Americans are serious about taking meaningful action to combat climate change. I am proud of the role Vermonters are playing in stepping up and providing the necessary and urgent leadership to tackle this critical issue.”

It’s not even noon on the East Coast and Step It Up is already turning out to be a tremendous success. Keep up the great work, keep those photos coming, and by the end of the day Congress will definitely have heard our message!

About Jamie

Jamie is the co-coordinator of 350.org, an international global warming campaign. A recent college graduate, he lives in San Francisco, CA. In 2007, he co-organized Step It Up, a campaign that pulled together over 2,000 climate rallies across the United States to push for strong climate action at the federal level. He's also an early member of the youth climate movement, leading one of Energy Action's first campaigns in 2005: Road to Detroit, a nationwide veggie-oil bus tour to promote sustainable transportation. He's traveled to Montreal and Bali to lobby the UN with youth, but he's a strong believer that change happens in the streets not in meetings. Jamie received the Morris K. Udall award in 2007 and has been recognized by the mighty state of Vermont for his work on climate change. You can also find him blogging at Campus Progress' "Pushback," Changents.com, and 350.org.