Hundreds protest climate change along 2 miles of Wilshire Boulevard

Hundreds of people protesting climate change picketed street corners Saturday along a 2-mile stretch of Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The spread-out rally was one of seven staged in cities across California as a preview of a demonstration expected to draw as many as 400,000 on Sunday in New York City.

The Wilshire Boulevard protest was met with a raucous serenade of honking horns during the four-hour demonstration.

Participants ranging from college groups to environmental and social activist organizations waved hand-painted signs that blasted dirty-fuel dependence.

“Save the humans,� read one.

“Tax carbon stop global warming,� said another.

Other said: “Fix the climate or the climate will fix you,� “Don’t frack with us� and “System change not climate change.�

Brad Davies of Northeast Los Angeles sported a tiny American flag in his hat as he held up a sign that read “Rupert Murdoch -- the puppet master of climate denial.�

Four-year-old Rachel Meltzer of Glendale held a sign reading “Climate action now!!! 100% clean energy.�

Asked by her father, Adam Meltzer, if she wanted to keep Glendale green, Rachel loudly proclaimed, “Yeah!�

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz thanked children who were taking part in the demonstration. “What we’re talking about here is what kids of the future will face,� told the protesters. “This is the challenge of our generation. This is World War III.�

Echo Park resident Kwazi Nkrumah reminded the crowd that last week’s heat wave might foreshadow what’s coming next.

“By this time next year this will feel like cool weather,� he warned.

Jack Eidt, whose group So Cal Coalition 350 helped organized the protest, described the protest as “building blocks against climate change.�

He said 2,000 similar events were planned nationwide in solidarity with Sunday’s New York event.