Thousands skipped school and work to join the Global Climate Strike

This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story.

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Rallying Chants at Youth Climate March

Thousands of children and teenagers didn’t care about being marked absent from class on Friday. Instead, they chose to rally along with adults (of all ages) for the planet.

Their core reason centered around the climate, and their signs, chants, and responses reflected the dire need for politicians and decision-makers to act on climate change.

“Our climate is damaged, and every life is endangered.“

Aaliarah Rice

Two young women, Grae Allen and Aaliarah Rice, skipped their classes at a Philadelphia High School to participate in the Global Climate Strike. When asked about why, Rice responded, “Our climate is damaged, and every life is endangered. The Earth is broken. We have to fix it.”

Alex Lopez, a high schooler at the strike, said that she was “tired of all the stuff” plaguing our planet: i.e. the fires in Brazil, wildfires in California, and hurricanes. As she said, “We can’t have our generation living in a world where we’re killing ourselves.”

One junior in high school mentioned that she thought her school was “OK with it. I mean, I can’t go to college in New York if there’s no New York to go to,” referencing the city’s risk of flooding during climate change.

The Philly Climate Strike began at Philadelphia City Hall with a rally, marched around Center City and closed with another rally.

Students of all ages gave speeches to crowds of thousands, as others held signs.

The Sunrise Movement, one of the Philadelphia Climate Strike organizers, encouraged young adults to register to vote and participate in the upcoming November election.

Recognizing Climate Injustices in a “Broke” City

“We want to help organize for those who could not be able to come, including low paid workers and their families.”

Bernard Reed

Aside from young adults, labor and humanitarian groups, environmental organizations and others participated in the rally. Bernard Reed of the Eastern Services Workers Association participated in solidarity to emphasize how low paid workers will be the most affected by climate change. According to Reed, it’s important to bring attention to the problems (and potential solutions) of climate change, specifically for those with low wages in the largest poorest city (Philadelphia).

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher