On the morning of September 20, thousands of people gathered in the nation’s capital for the same cause: the climate. This event, the Washington DC Climate Strike, was a youth-led protest demanding the president and other world leaders to address the ever-growing climate crisis and enact viable solutions. Young activists all over the nation and in more than 150 other countries organized similar strikes on the same day.
As the large crowd made its way from Main Street onto the Capitol Lawn, every person, young or old, had the Earth in mind. Since the strike took place on a Friday, the many high school and college students in attendance had opted to miss school in favor of activism.
Alex Aronez, a senior at Quince Orchard High School who hopes to major in environmental science, traveled to DC as a student activist. She strongly believes that it is important to get involved.
“It is our future; it all depends on [activism],” Aronez said. “If we do not start doing something now, since we only have ten years, it is going to be too late before we know it.”
However, not everyone agrees on just how pressing the climate crisis currently is. President Donald Trump and his supporters often dismiss the issue as a hoax, according to multiple sources including TIME Magazine and The Washington Post. In fact, two years ago, Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, a global agreement to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change, in addition to rescinding the requirement that oil and gas companies report methane emissions.
Despite the White House dismissing climate change, Trump’s own administration has released reports about the severity of this issue, such as the new federal climate assessment from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The marchers at DC also wished to counteract politicians such as Trump who actively deny this issue.
“I feel like it’s really bad that someone who is in charge of our country does not want to acknowledge that we are in a crisis,” Aronez said. “[Climate change is] going to affect everybody in the end, and I think that’s really irresponsible.”
Teens at the Climate Strike were not afraid to say what they wanted loud and clear.
“I want policy change and I want the passing of the Green New Deal,” said Sari Langholt, a senior at Quince Orchard. “Protesting is a way to make our voices heard and influence Congressmen.”
Other students, including Eric Fagan, a senior at Quince Orchard, agree that protesters and young activists must pave the way for future generations.
“The Baby Boomers have already shown repeatedly that they are going to ignore [climate change] for the most part,” Fagan said. “The fact still remains that teenagers are going to make up a very large part of the next vote.”
Inspired by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who recently delivered a powerful speech at the UN Climate Action Summit criticizing world leaders, these teens are not afraid to step up and demand action.
Article by Zoe Bell of Quince Orchard High School
Photo courtesy of Alex Aronez