Yesterday, the world saw that Americans, and particularly younger Americans, care about climate change at the Forward On Climate rallies.

In Washington DC, somewhere between 35,000 and 50,000 people met, raised their voices (and some awesome signs) and marched around the White House to ask their government, and their President, to stop trading our future for a deeper investment in dirty oil that’s disrupting our climate and putting us all at risk.

And all around the country – in Ames, Iowa; in Bozeman, Montana; in Austin, Texas; in San Francisco, LA and Denver – people gathered to raise their voices, connect with one another, focus on solutions and ask their government to be accountable for climate.

And ACE was proud to be a part of it.

We were proud to be in Washington DC, with ACE staff (some after longer bus rides than others).

We were proud to be a central rally point for dozens of high schoolers from around DC who chose to march with ACE. And the ACE alumni who stopped by to say hi.

We were proud to have our ACE Youth Reps from Chicago and Colorado come out to DC to speak at the rally’s Youth Convergence…

…Meet with climate heroes, noted activists and famous climate-friendly folks…

…And lead the largest climate rally in US history the entire route.

For some, it was their first time in DC. Their first rally. Their first plane ride to get there.

But for all of them, it was a transformative, positive, important and, well, fun. (We think the DJs from the Hip Hop Caucus had a lot to do with that as well.)

In Denver, about 500 people gathered to march, speak up and form a human oil spill, including local ACE staff.

In Los Angeles, around 500 people came to raise their voices about the importance of taking action for our climate, including about 40 ACE students.

They made awesome signs and came up with great chants. (Santa Monica High must have a slogans class.)

They also met Orlando Bloom of LORD OF THE RINGS and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.

In San Francisco, there were about 4000 people who came to speak, rally and march around the State Department building.

…including two of the featured speakers: amazing students from ACE.

Olivia motivated the crowd to take action. Shadi got everyone excited about our power to make a difference.

For the staff who worked to coordinate the events, manage all the moving pieces, connect with partners, pitch student speakers, coach students, take pictures, recruit their friends and family to be resident photographers, videographers and social media gurus, today was a day to catch our collective breath, travel back home and let the chants of “this is what democracy looks like” stop ringing in our ears.

For the students who took part in a rally anywhere, today they had a chance to reflect on what it’s like to exercise their free speech, to petition their government, to raise their voices, to stand up for what they believe in – as well as be a part of a huge, diverse movement. And be a part of history.

And for all of us, today isn’t the day we think, “Now the rally is over.” Today is the day we start thinking, “And now the momentum truly begins.”

The day was full of inspiring speeches from ACE youth across the country. To read more motivating youth stories check out Shadi’s blog from the San Francisco rally and Srijesa’s blog about youth utilizing their superpower to persuade and inspire adults.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnk8RLqYgHY[/youtube]