Student Climate Strike To Take Place Friday In Tampa Bay

TAMPA BAY, FL — In an effort to draw greater attention to the global climate crisis, youth from around the world and across the United States will stage a strike on Friday, Sept. 20 to demand an end to fossil fuels and reductions in corporate pollution and environmental destruction.

The event is expected to be one of the largest environmental protests ever.

Organized by Global Climate Strike, millions of students are expected to come together to demand an end to fossil fuels including students in Tampa Bay.

A Tampa Climate Action Rally will be hosted by Our Climate and Florida Youth Climate Strike Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Tampa City Hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.

A St. Pete Climate Strike and March, hosted by the Florida Suncoast Sierra Club in cooperation with Fired Up Pinellas, Tampa Bay Watch, League of Women Voters of St. Petersburg, NextGen Florida and more than 20 other organizations, will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at City Hall, 175 5th St. N. in St. Petersburg.

The Pasco chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, Pasco Revolution and Pasco Activists will stage a strike at 10:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs, 230 Grand Blvd. near Spring Bayou.

The international protest comes days before the United Nations Climate Action Summit taking place on Sept. 23 in New York City, where leaders from government, business and civil society are expected to address the global climate emergency.

Kara Weihman, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School and a student leader of the Youth Climate Strike,

"I've always been very passionate about protecting our environment but I think it's clear now more than ever that climate change has these negative consequences," said Weihman in an interview this week with WMNF News. "The main goal of the strike is to call on elected government officials to take action against climate change."

She believes it's time governments hold businesses accountable for negatively impacting the environment, and is urging fellow students to join the Tampa Bay rallies and show the community that the Earth's fate is a major concern of youth.