According to the man who helped organize Hands Across the Sand in Florida, Dave Rauschkolb, there will be a total of 642 events around the world, 599 in the U.S, in 437 cities for a national Hands Across the Sands protest this Saturday.
The initial action back in February was led by environmentalists like Rauschkolb, and closer to home, the Sierra Club's Cathy Harrelson, was successful in getting thousands to wear black and hold hands for fifteen minutes in a demonstration of solidarity against drilling for oil and natural gas in Florida's waters, 3-10 miles off the coast.
Now the protest will take place during the middle of one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.
Locally, organizers have events happening all over the place in Pinellas County for the event, which they're asking people to attend at 11 a.m. The literal holding of hands would take place from 12:00-12:15 p.m.
On St. Pete Beach alone there will be seven different locations, including behind the Tradewinds Resort (6000 Gulf Blvd.) Also at 5500 Gulf Blvd., at Upham Beach, behind the Sirata at 5300 Gulf, at the Don CeSar (3800 Gulf Blvd) and two locations at Pass-a-Grille (7th & 8th Ave. and 16th Ave). There will also be protests at Madeira Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Reddington Beach, Clearwater Beach, at the Pier in St. Pete, and other locales. To get a complete list go to handsacrossthesand.org
This article appears in Jun 24-30, 2010.