Opponents of offshore drilling and sonic blasting joined hands on March 18 up and down the North Carolina coast.

Lines of people linked hands along the beach in at least nine coastal communities, from Nags Head in the north to Sunset Beach in the south. Participants held these symbolic human barricades for a 15-minute silent vigil at noon.

More than 100 participants gathered on Wrightsville Beach. It was reported that affiliated events took place simultaneously at 87 locations across 15 states and five countries.

Local organizers called “Hands Across the Sand” a national event held annually “to bring awareness about the dangers inherent in securing and burning dirty fuels and to champion a new era of clean energy for a sustainable planet for our children and theirs.”

The event took on special significance this year in the face of the Trump Administration’s stepped-up attacks on protections built up under the preceding Obama Administration. Bipartisan opposition to radically expanded offshore drilling has thus far stymied the Trump offshore agenda, but the fight for a clean coast remains deeply at risk.

Up next, Clean Energy Worth Billions in NC >>

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