Activist Christopher Swain swims the Gowanus Canal in spite of EPA warnings
After a failed attempt in April due to inclement weather, clean water advocate Christopher Swain finally completed his 1.8-mile swim of the Gowanus Canal on Saturday morning.
At 10:30 a.m., decked out in a vibrant yellow protective diving suit complete with earplugs, waterproof gloves, flippers, goggles and a green swimming cap, Swain emerged slowly into the discolored water as hordes of news crews and disgusted bystanders peered on.
Written on his swim cap in black ink was “#Hope.”
“I have ‘Hope’ written on my cap because I have hope that one day, this canal will be swimmable and entirely clean,” said Swain.