Students Take to the Streets to Protest Political Inaction to Solve the Climate Crisis
Students all around the globe took to the streets on Friday, for what has been described as the largest climate protest in world history.
Students met downtown Manhattan to protest the Climate crisis on Sept. 20, 2019.
Thousands of people participated across all continents and in hundreds of countries. Here in New York, the mayor’s office estimated that a crowd of over 60,000 walked the streets of Lower Manhattan, enthusiastically parading in a disorderly line through the narrow downtown streets.
Young protestors in Foley Square said they hope this day of action will inspire people to change their daily actions.
“First I definitely think it’s going to have an effect. Whether it’s in the mindset of the people who are observing, who get to see how much our young people really care about our environment and our future. Hopefully it will change the minds of people, to help impact the earth in a more healthy way. Whether or not it will impact actual policy, that’s a good question,” said a young protestor who identified herself as Dana Marie.
Students created colorful posters and banners representing the earth, to protest the Climate crisis on Sept. 20, 2019.
Inspired by Greta Thunberg, who began her movement ‘Friday’s for Future’ protesting against the inefficacy of the policies created to protect the environment and the sluggish speed at which actions is being taken by governments, the world’s youth sees the need to raise their voices.
“We’ve come to a point in the administration where writing bills and talking isn’t helping. So, I think something that maybe they’ll understand better is a bunch of people in a big yelling group,” said Violet Mass from Bard High School Early College, in Manhattan.
Protestors in Foley Square, Manhattan, where the march for the climate strike started on Sept. 20, 2019.
Thunberg’s call to action and commitment to the cause, demonstrated by crossing the Atlantic from the UK to New York City on a zero-emissions sailing boat, resonates with students across the world, who are turning themselves into megaphones to amplify her message. The city of New York welcomed Thunberg with open arms on August 28th and has since been showing all its support for the cause she represents.
“When something like this big occupies a bunch of like streets in the one of the bigger parts of the cities, I think it’s bound to have some sort of influence over people’s decisions, at least people will more influence. I believe that with all the support, yeah, it’s bound to bring something. As long as it touches one influential figure, it can definitely bring about something,” said Diego Pilès from NEST+M school in the Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Students from El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice, Williamsburg (Brooklyn), marched downtown Manhattan to protest the Climate crisis on Sept. 20, 2019.
“The city hall has declared a national state of emergency, and they haven’t really had any policies enacted yet. And I think that this, it strives, and it pushes for change. By the deal in allowing us to march today it’s saying we as New York City aren’t for this, and we will fight it with everything we have,” said Natalie M. Kessler from Beacon high school in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan.
Proof of a tangible change is still hard to see, but all eyes will be watching what governments’ response to the climate crisis is at the UN Climate Action Summit that will be taking place this Monday in New York.
