Nationwide climate change march calls for action to protect environment

There were many climate change marches that took place around the country Saturday.

The largest took place in our nation's capital where thousands gathered to demand more action to fight climate change and protect the environment.

Demonstrators in D.C. started their march near the capitol and slowly made their way to the White House.

President Trump said the roll back on environmental protections, proposed cuts to the EPA, and oil and gas regulations will create jobs and generate billions of dollars.

Locally, about a hundred people held a climate rally in Caldwell, New Jersey.

It was one of several smaller demonstrations across the country, many organized by people, who had no idea they'd be dedicating their Saturdays to causes like this.

They never pictured this as a perfect weekend getaway.

Marchers crowded Bloomfield Avenue, the busy roadway running through the heart of Essex County.

"When I started, I didn't know what I was going to do. Whether I was going to write a post card or call a representative. Now, we have this, and I think is pretty spectacular,” said Maria Lopez, founder of Caldwell Huddle, a grassroots activist group.

Modeled after the successful conservative tea party movement, groups like this have popped up across the country since the election..

Crowds supported larger climate change marches, coinciding with President Trump's 100th day in office.

The president on the other hand, has argued that repealing Obama-era regulations will create new jobs.

Several have marched in the larger demonstrations such as the Women’s March in Washington D.C., rallies in New York City that took a stance against the White House’s view on immigration, and the Earth Day rally led by researchers and scientists.

"Every person is important. They can make a change. The involvement of all people is what this about,” said Lopez

People found their voices and found themselves on the front lines of policy debates shaping our future.