In Philadelphia, members of the Sierra Club, the Clean Air Council, and other local groups held a rally for clean air on the Independence Mall. The event showcased an 18-foot-tall inflatable hand holding an inhaler, which highlighted the discussion about asthma and poor air quality. Coverage of the rally appeared on local television and radio in Philadelphia, a city that received an “F” in the State of the Air 2011 Report by the American Lung Association.
The inflatable hand also appeared at our rally in Houston, which featured Houston’s Vice Mayor Pro Tem, City Council Member Ed Gonzalez, and various environmental supporters opposing the proposed White Stallion coal-fired power plant near the city. Despite the rainy weather, dozens of White Stallion opponents gathered to release a new Sierra Club study showing the potential risks of increased smog pollution from the proposed power plant. In addition to showing the support of local politicians for our work, the rally received attention in media outlets such as Houston Public Radio and Fox News in Houston.