Thousands of young people in Vermont joined peers around the world Friday to protest the failure to adequately address global warming.
“We are skipping our lessons to teach you one,” read a sign that a girl held up in a crowd packed shoulder-to-shoulder in front of Burlington City Hall.
The turnout there reached at least 2,000 and was probably many more, Deputy Police Chief Jon Murad said shortly after noon, as he and other officers set up traffic barricades. But he had no way of knowing for sure, he added.
The crowd spilled onto Main Street, which was closed to vehicles. Musicians played, students chanted for climate justice and speakers addressed the crowd from city hall steps.
In Montpelier, protesters gathered at the Statehouse carrying banners such as one that read “Climate Action Now.” Similar events were being held all around the state, according to the Vermont Climate Strike Coalition, which said Friday marks the start of a week of action.
Climate protests organized by youths have drawn massive crowds in major cities around the world.
Check out these images from Vermont gatherings:
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Donna, I know what you mean – most of it.
I hope that next time, they have their demonstration just as you would wish.
Charlie Messing , I don’t mind protesting as long it’s done in a way where it doesn’t disrupt peoples lives, like getting to work,!!! Laying down or sitting down in the middle of the street is not right. That put people lives in danger. Fire trucks can’t get to a fire, an ambulance can’t get to a victim or hospital all because fools are laying or sitting down in the road, while traffic is blocked. This is not protesting this is being idiots and it’s against the LAW.. And to be really honest, if a reporter had asked a lot of these students and 4/5 yr (olds who are made to carry a sign) they wouldn’t even know what they were protesting for.
Donna, I’m sorry you were dismayed that the youngsters were not solemn all day. They are young.
Yes, people should read up on the history of weather. You too. Climate change is a fact. A sad one.
Wahrheit: This is not a Children’s Crusade – because it’s about saving the planet rather than spreading a religion, and the first one involved selling children as slaves. Have you read about the changing weather? Icecaps melting? Any of that?
Many “likers” and “dislikers” think the demonstration was foolish. This is why there was a demonstration – to show that this is an important issue. The times they are a-changing.
Most of the students spent time laughing, smoking and not just cigarettes either. They will use any excuse to get out of school. If you didn’t want to protest you stayed at school and have to listen to a speech about climate change. There was lot’s of teachers in the streets. I want to know are they being paid for this day?? Hope not !!!
Back in the 60’s they said there was climate change and we’ll all be dead in 10 yrs, well damn it’s been almost 60 yrs and the earth is still alive, the Icebergs are still here, we are still alive.. This climate change is called weather. When I was young we had hot months, heavy rains and lot’s of snow. I remember walking to meet the school bus with snow up to my waist and this past winter we got 5 ft of snow in 1 day. it’s called W-E-A-T-H-E-R !!! People need to read up on the history of our weather..
In the year 1212 a group of evil perverse adults convinced tens of thousands of naieve ignorant parents to donate their children to a crusade of religious lunacy.. It was called the Childrens Crusade. Todays Climate Strike marked the start of the 2nd Childrens Crusade.
Students: Okay, we will listen to the scientific authorities on global warming and the coming catastrophe of sea level rise.
Conservatives: No, those aren’t the right kind of authorities. We meant the ones on Fox News.
Conservative: man, I wish they taught students civics, the importance of voting, and the need to participate in our democracy.
Students: Okay, we’re gonna march in the streets demanding our governments address global warming, as you adults are doing a terrible job of stewardship.
Conservatives: We didn’t mean that kind of civics. We meant the kind where you don’t question authority.
Did someone say the students organized the world-wide demonstration? Or was it nation-wide?
The answer would be no, because many people, even grownups, are against pollution and fossil fuel.
As far as the demonstration itself being bad for the environment, that’s not looking at the big picture. [If you throw water on a fire, you are not wasting water.] If you assemble thousands of people in hundreds of cities for one day, it can show unity of purpose, and the certainty that many people agree to work together on undoing some of the climate disruption we have. Icecaps are melting. It was not a waste of time.
To attribute this well organized, centrally orchestrated and nation-wide display to students is absurd.
How many additional tons of Carbon were released into the atmosphere due to the traffic disruptions and jams these marches in the streets caused around the world today?