Students around the world will be demanding environmental action on climate change at Global Climate Strikes on Friday, September 20.
Young people are planning the strikes and asking students and adults to join them on September 20 in advance of the UN Emergency Climate Summit that begins September 27. To find a rally near you, go to Global Climate Strike.
Students are supporting 15 year-old Greta Thunberg who last year sat in front of the Swedish Parliament every school day for three weeks to protest the lack of action on the climate crisis. Her question was: “What’s the point in learning if there won’t be a future to use that knowledge?” Since then, students around the world have joined her in walking out of class, and now they are asking the general public to join them.
In Kansas City, high school and college students are planning to walk out of class at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 20 and march from the University of Kansas City-Missouri Campus to Brush Creek, 424 Volker Blvd. Kansas City, MO. UMKC Student Government Association President Justice Horn, representatives from the Sunrise Movement, and several high school students will speak on the urgent need to address climate change. College students from UMKC, the Kansas City Art Institute, Rockhurst University and high school students from across state lines will be striking.
The Kansas City Climate Strike Coalition will host a second rally at 5 p.m. at Mill Creek Park on the Plaza. Speakers include representatives from the Kansas City, MO City Council, Kansas City Climate Strike Coalition, Kansas City, KS National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Kansas Sierra Cub, the Sunrise Movement KC, Kansas Tenants Service Employees International Union Local 1 and students.
The effort is organized by the presenting groups and Extinction Rebellion, MoveOn, Indivisible, 350.org, Missouri Interfaith Power & Light, Fossil Free UMKC, KC Vegans for Climate Justice, Climate Council of Greater Kansas City, Bridging the Gap, UMKC Student Geology Club, StandUp KC, UMKC Women in Science, AY Musik, Missouri Jobs with Justice, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City Mountain Movers, March for Our Lives Kansas City and the Metropolitan Energy Center. Find more information, go to Sunrise Movement KC.
In Lawrence, KS, students are planning to meet at noon on Friday, September 20 at the South Park gazebo, 1140 Massachusetts St., and walk along Massachusetts Avenue to the City Building at 6th and Massachusetts streets. They also will have a 5 p.m. rally at South Park. Learn more at Sunrise Movement – Lawrence, KS.
Photo: Global Climate Strike