Climate Activists Join May Day Marches in “End Fossil Fuels” Contingents

Today, families, neighbors, and working people will march in “End Fossil Fuels” contingents in about 20 May Day demonstrations across the U.S., from Washington D.C. to Wichita, Kansas. 

“For decades, Big Oil billionaires have supported politicians that prioritize corporate profits over our communities’ wellbeing,” says Griffin Sinclair Wingate, Organizing Director at Climate Defenders. “Today, the climate movement mobilizes alongside labor, democracy, and immigrant justice movements to stand up to Trump’s authoritarian agenda and protect our communities. Together we can win affordable housing, healthcare, and clean energy for all.” 

This year’s “May Day Strong” marches are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of participants in over 3,000 locations around the country. Organized by unions, anti-war, pro-democracy and immigration justice groups as well as climate organizations, the demonstrations are calling for a country that puts workers over billionaires. 

“I’m marching with an End Fossil Fuels contingent on May Day because under this fascist regime, we are all losing – the climate movement, workers rights movement, immigrant rights movement. We need to stand together to win and by joining the End Fossil Fuels contingent, I am making a statement that the climate movement stands with immigrants and workers. We’re all in this together,” says Quinn Eide, Executive Director at Fossil Free California.

Additional Quotes:

“3% of the world’s crude oil travels through northern Minnesota, and our cold-weather state is experiencing rapid warming due to the climate crisis. The consolidation of wealth and political power that the fossil fuel economy facilitates means that our communities’ needs aren’t met while a few people with unimaginable wealth make decisions about our shared world. We need to take back this power and that means ending the fossil fuel era,” says Andy Pearson, Senior Organizer, False Climate Solutions at CURE. 

“In my community in LA, fossil fuels are not an abstract problem. Our homes, schools, and hospitals exist alongside active oil drill sites and unplugged oil wells. When I was just five years old, when my grandmother passed away from cancer caused by pollution from oil drilling. Fossil fuels are the engine of every crisis we face: climate collapse, endless wars and genocide, corrupt politicians, police violence, and a government that treats our lives as disposable,” says Sim-Marcel Bilal, Executive Director of Youth Climate Los Angeles

“There is no separation between fossil fuel interests and Trump’s authoritarianism—each enables and nourishes the other. The Big Oil robber barons bought and paid for Trump, and Trump has repaid them by moving to block any and all responses to the climate crisis, from dismantling the renewable sector to eviscerating the EPA. Trump has given Big Oil what they could never have gotten from a truly democratic society,” say Sheldon Pollock and Pat Almonrode, members of the Coordinating Committee of Third Act NYC

“I’m marching in an End Fossil Fuels Contingent because I support regenerative agriculture practices that can solve much of our fossil fuel dependence by simply changing the way we farm. Regenerative agriculture doesn’t rely on fertilizer made from fossil fuels, but instead uses natural methods that can save a family farm millions of dollars a year,” says Lori Lawrence of Plastic Free Wichita. 

Notes to the editor: 

1. 1. High resolution images and b-roll will be available here immediately following the events.
   2. The full list of “End Fossil Fuels” actions can be found here.