A circus crew raises voice at People’s Climate March

New York City awoke on Sunday morning to the chants of ‘We want justice’. The People’s Climate March took place in the city just days ahead of Tuesday’s United Nations’ Climate Summit, at which an international carbon emissions agreement will be discussed. At what is being touted as the largest mobilization against climate change, thousands of demonstrators stretched as far as the eye could see.

The march brought together a large coalition of people from various geographies, ages, races, unions, faiths, and interest groups, all rallying together in support of Mother Earth. Marchers gathered in the streets with floats, flags, banners, flyers and some even in elaborate costumes. First section of the demonstration, called ‘Frontlines of crisis, forefront of change’ comprised of the people first and foremost impacted by climate change. Holding paper sunflowers and a massive banner, they led the People’s Climate March to represent people who were hit hard by climate problems they didn’t create. The forefront included Indigenous Peoples, Environmental Justice Communities, Sandy and other climate-impacted communities and with them, members of a social circus crew, Cirque du Monde.

The social outreach program of Cirque du Soleil, Cirque du Monde uses circus as an alternative education tool to engage youth. Volunteers and coaches attended the march with some of their young students on behalf of The Point, where their circus workshops are held.

“Instead of people marching, I thought lets have people marching and juggling,” said Amy Chen, program coordinate of the circus crew, as she juggled around her green and white colored pins. Chen, who has been a circus coach since 2008, teaches aerial, static trapeze, lightwire and juggling in various after-school and teen development programs.

“Art in itself has bigger purpose and street performances are a creative way of catching people’s attention and making a change,” added Chen as she gathered with her crew and other volunteers at the staging area. Some of the members of The Point community center held a massive blue colored banner, which read ‘The Bronx is breathing.’

“I’m here to raise awareness about climate change and global warming. Melting of ice caps is real, it caused hurricane Sandy and now I want to keep my city safe,” said Mitchel James, an 11-year-old member at the center.

Organizers of the event estimated that as many as 310,000 demonstrators joined the march, although the figure was not confirmed by the New York Police Department. The march began just before 11.30 a.m. and covered a two-mile route in Manhattan, starting at Columbus Circle.

While some performers felt that their art was a medium to advocate environment change, others were there just to spread joy. “Unfortunately I’m not part of any social or environmental group but I wanted to come out on the streets be a part the movement and engage people with my performances,” said Angel Torres, another volunteer at the social crew. Thousands of protestors took to the streets to propagate a system change and in between their chants some of them would stop to admire the balancing and juggling acts of Torres and other members of the crew.

Seth Magee, who has been a volunteer coach at the circus crew for five years, joined the demonstration to be a part of a movement for positive change. “Everyone who is here wants to show that they are concerned about the environment and they want to look out for the future generations,” he added.

Chen played a big part in mobilizing the members of the circus crew through social media which led to some of them joining in the protest from outside the city as well. Toni Duncan, a Cirque du Soleil member, drove in with his wife from Vermont where he teaches acrobats and various circus arts. “People who are involved in art are typically more progressive and they tend to be active in attempts to bring a social change. Our performances are just a fun way of bringing people together,” said Duncan who occasionally paused to juggle and balance pins on his nose and forehead.

Music and chants filled the streets of midtown Manhattan and at exactly 12.58 p.m., demonstrators held a moment of silence in the honor of victims of climate change. Social circus crew raised their arms and joined hands and juggling pins at the moment of silence, which was followed by a cacophony of music, horns, drums, whistles and cheers with the social circus giving a coordinated juggling performance in the middle of it all.

“I didn’t expect the march to have such a massive outcome and I’m excited so many people from my circus crew turned up,” said Chen. “We attempt to teach team work and trust through the medium of art and this protest is a good opportunity for these children to come together and show their talent.”