In photos: Asheville Climate Strike turns out hundreds for Green New Deal

Asheville Climate Strike at Pack Square Park
STAND TOGETHER: Western North Carolina residents come together at Pack Square Park for the Asheville Climate Strike on Dec. 6. Photo by Daniel Walton

As world leaders met in Spain for a United Nations conference on climate change, Western North Carolina residents converged on Pack Square for their own environmental action on the morning of Dec. 6. Organized by Sunrise Movement Asheville in conjunction with six other area nonprofits, the Asheville Climate Strike for a Green New Deal called for government leaders “to take bold action and treat this like the climate emergency that it is.”

Chief among these demands was that Asheville City Council pass a climate emergency resolution as written by local Sunrise organizers. That language would require City Manager Debra Campbell to designate a “Climate Emergency Mobilization Officer,” who would develop a 10-year “Climate Justice Plan” with strategies for “climate mitigation, resilience, adaptation, engagement, education, advocacy and research and development programs.”

Adding to the political bent of the strike was the presence of numerous candidates running in 2020 elections, as well as current Council member Brian Haynes. Those in attendance included Moe Davis and Steve Woodsmall, both Democratic candidates for U.S. House District 11; Ben Scales, Democratic candidate for N.C. Senate District 49; and Asheville City Council candidates Shane McCarthy and Kim Roney.

Over 40 Sunrise members broke off from the main event to occupy Asheville City Hall in support of the climate emergency resolution. As of press time, Sunrise reported that 22 of its members were being arrested for trespassing after entering the city manager’s office.

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About Daniel Walton
Daniel Walton is the former news editor of Mountain Xpress. His work has also appeared in Sierra, The Guardian, and Civil Eats, among other national and regional publications. Follow me @DanielWWalton

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4 thoughts on “In photos: Asheville Climate Strike turns out hundreds for Green New Deal

  1. Enlightened Enigma

    What is their plan for when they STOP the climate from changing ? ? ?

  2. C-Law

    Interesting the incestuous nature of the Asheville leftists. Ashley McDermott, a local “activist” and leader of the Soros-funded Sunrise Movement already tried her hand at managing Ben Scales’ failed 2018 political campaign. I guess globull warming screeching is a good time killer until the next campaign season rolls around, huh!? The useful idiots are so predictable it’s a wonder MtnX even bothers covering them anymore. Seriously search the MtnX archives for all the times they try to push this Sunrise bowel Movement upon the local community.

    • Susie-Danzen

      I get your frustration, but this is the heart and soul of the Asheville community. What else goes on in Asheville??

      What else should MtnX cover? How about something crazy and new like a male stripper running for Asheville city council??!! Oh wait, that was 1992. Nevermind..

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