Albany Rally Report-back: By our count, 2400 people marched to the Capitol in Albany on Monday, August 27, and pledged out loud to resist fracking in
Albany Rally Report-back:
By our count, 2400 people marched to the Capitol in Albany on Monday, August 27, and pledged out loud to resist fracking in New York State. After the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to her, Sandra Steingraber noted that a fist is the same size as the human heart, so the gesture of raising one's fist is really that of putting one's heart into something. It was a beautiful, moving moment of solidarity.
Minutes later, a small crowd filed into the capitol building, singing as they moved up the historic stairs and into the newly-restored dome to deliver the more than 3,000 pledges to Cuomo offices.
The pledge capped a day of speeches, chants and a theatrical performance outside the DEC offices, where a puppet Cuomo debated the merits of fracking with an angel and devil perched on each shoulder. The crowd filled the main streets of Albany as workers on lunch break looked on.
Links to Reports:
Photo by Mark Dunlea
Press coverage of the event was widespread. A selected few articles can be found at the following links, as well as photos albums:
Photo Album by Mark Dunlea.
Press: "Fracking a 'gut check' for Cuomo."
Press: WBAI Photos and videos: Don't Frack New York's facebook page is being updated by the minute!
What Next?
After a week of being trailed all over the state--in NYC at his policy summit, and at the State Fair in Syracuse, plus yesterday's rally--we hope Cuomo's starting to get the message. Let's keep it up: Keep calling Cuomo's office (518) 474-8390. If you haven't already, sign the Pledge to Resist Fracking in New York. And if you own land in NY state and are opposed to drilling, add your acreage to RealNYS, a registry that aims to show the governor that our numbers are way better than the pro-drilling Joint Landowner's Coalition. In its first 5 weeks, 50,000 acres have been signed up. We want another 10,000 acres every week--help us!
