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For Immediate Release
July, 21 2016, 12:15pm EDT
Contact:
Seth Gladstone, sgladstone@fwwatch.org, 917-363-6615
Thousands to March on Eve of Democratic National Convention, Demanding Fracking Ban and Huge Investment in Renewables
900+ Groups From 50 States Back March for a Clean Energy Revolution, Convened by Americans Against Fracking and Pennsylvanians Against Fracking
WASHINGTON
Local and national advocacy leaders and affected individuals will hold a press conference at City Hall in Philadelphia on Sunday July 24th, 11:30 am before being joined by thousands of concerned Americans at 1 pm for the March for a Clean Energy Revolution. Convened by Americans Against Fracking, the massive march will call for a nationwide ban on fracking and major investment in renewable energy. The march has been endorsed by more than 900 environmental, health, labor, political, faith, justice, indigenous and student organizations from every state.
At the 11:30 am press conference at City Hall, advocacy leaders and individuals harmed by fracking will call on the nation's current and future leaders to ban fracking now, keep fossil fuels in the ground, stop dirty energy, transition to 100% renewable energy, and ensure environmental justice for all.
Pennsylvanians, in particular, will be calling on Governor Tom Wolf, a DNC Host Committee Honorary Chair, to stop harming those who live in Pennsylvania, where the fracking industry has developed more than 9,000 wells in Pennsylvania in just the past decade.
Press will have an opportunity to mingle with the speakers, advocacy leaders, and affected residents. At 1 pm, thousands of advocates carrying hand-painted signs and chanting demands, will begin the one-mile march at City Hall, heading east straight down Market St., and ending at Independence Hall. Final action and chants will begin at 1:45 pm at Independence Hall, along with an enormous artistic display, transforming a drill rig into a sun.
WHEN: Sunday, July 24th, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
11:30 am to 12:00 pm - March leaders, affected individuals outline demands at Press Conference
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Press availability with national leaders and interfaith service at City Hall
1 pm - March for a Clean Energy Revolution, beginning at City Hall, heading east straight down Market St., ending at Independence Hall
1:45pm - Final action, chants, and artistic display at Independence Hall
WHO: Speakers at press conference include:
Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
Sandra Steingraber, Biologist and Americans Against Fracking Science Advisory Board
Chief Dwaine Perry, Ramapough Lunaape Nation
Lydia Avila, Executive Director, Powershift Network
Teresa Hill, ACTION United
Helen Gym, Philadelphia City Councilmember
Elise Gerhart, activist fighting Mariner East pipeline
Fracking-harmed residents of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia
Others to be announced
WHAT: The March for a Clean Energy Revolution will be a peaceful, family-friendly action expressing our power through our voices, presence, and creativity. It will demonstrate the strength and commitment of the movement, demand the end to dirty fossil fuels and catapult the need for 100% renewable energy onto the national agenda on the eve of the Democratic National Convention.
Background
The March for a Clean Energy Revolution comes on the heels of a Johns Hopkins study, published July 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that people with asthma who live near bigger or larger numbers of active unconventional natural gas wells operated by the fracking industry in Pennsylvania are 1.5 to four times likelier to have asthma attacks than those who live farther away.
The study on fracking and asthma comes about a year after a comprehensive study linking premature births and at-risk pregnancies to fracking. Data on over 10,000 pregnancies in Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2013 showed odds of premature births increased 40% when expectant mothers live in heavily fracked communities.The vast majority of studies find risks and harms; a recent peer-reviewed study analyzing all of the relevant peer-reviewed literature found that, "the great majority of science contains findings that indicate concerns for public health, air quality and water quality."
About Pennsylvanians Against Fracking
Pennsylvanians Against Fracking is a statewide coalition of organizations, institutions, and businesses calling for a halt to fracking in the Commonwealth. Learn more about Pennsylvanians Against Fracking at paagainstfracking.org.
About Americans Against Fracking
Americans Against Fracking is comprised of entities dedicated to banning drilling and fracking for oil and natural gas in order to protect our shared vital resources for future generations.
About Food & Water Watch
Food & Water Watch, a lead organizer of the March for a Clean Energy Revolution, was the first national organization to call for a ban on fracking everywhere. Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people's lives and protects our environment.
Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people's health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.
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— Molly Jong-Fast (@mollyjongfast.bsky.social) January 16, 2026 at 10:56 AM
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