The March for the Ocean event to be held this Saturday, June 9, is organized by Earth Day Network and follows on the 2018 Earth Day theme pressing for awareness and cleanup of ocean plastic pollution. The problem is highlighted by a growing a gyre located in the Pacific Ocean that is a mixture of marine debris, microplastics and other debris and now covers an area three times the size of France.

On Friday June 8, crowds will greet ocean advocate and paddler Margo Pellegrino when she arrives in Washington, D.C. after paddling from Atlantic City, New Jersey, and an international film festival will screen ocean films under the stars from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at the march stage at the NW corner of the Washington Monument grounds by 17th St. and Constitution Avenue NW.

On Saturday June 9, Pellegrino and a group of kayaks, canoes and other boats will paddle from the Anacostia River to the Potomac River to join in the March for the Oceans, which will gather at the corner of the Washington Monument grounds and march past the White House at 12:00 p.m.

Main stage events following the march include ocean advocates Dr. Sylvia Earle, Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau, Danni Washington, Carl Safina, Sea Youth Rise Up, Hannah4Change, Heirs to Our Oceans and other artists and musicians performing and calling for job-generating renewable energy, corporate accountability to reduce waste and the protection of living shorelines, a healthy ocean and clean water.

For more information, visit www.marchfortheocean.org or follow March for the Ocean on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube with the hashtags #MarchForTheOcean #M4O #OceanIsRising #SoAreWe #WearBlue.

For more information about Earth Day Network and the End Plastic Pollution campaign, visit www.earthday.org or follow EDN on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtags #EarthDay #EndPlasticPollution.