Following the record-breaking, world-wide climate strike on September 20-27, Extinction Rebellion organized in Boston to revamp the energy around the climate emergency. The Global Climate Strike saw 7.6 million people organized in 6135 separate strikes, 185 countries, and 820 organizations.
Extinction Rebellion, known for its mission to cause disruption to bring further attention to climate change, organized Flood the Seaport. Hundreds of climate activists marched from Dewey Square to the Congress Street Bridge, forcing a bridge closure in rush hour traffic. The march and occupation of the Congress Street Bridge were joined by the marching music of the Second Line Brass Band, an activist marching band.
As activists moved onto the bridge, they built a temporary dome to meditate in. After completely occupying the bridge, activists set up banners on both sides of the bridge that read, "Declare climate and ecological emergency." Shortly after, two activists climbed the 40-foot tower at the top of the bridge to hang a banner that read, "Tell the truth, declare climate emergency." Police spoke sternly with the tower climbers but did not arrest them.
Activists occupying the bridge were joined by a sub-group of Extinction Rebellion, the Red Rebel Brigade. These signature activists all dress in red cloaks and move in slow, flowing unison. Their "dances" were slow, focused, and meditative, with their red cloaks symbolizing the "lifeblood of nature."
"We just want it to be emotive and to have a message without having to explain it; the idea was you would almost empathically feel and understand the situation, which is the power of art," said group designer Doug Francisco.
