Rally Signs At Baltimore Climate Strike Send Message

BALTIMORE, MD — Hundreds of students walked out of school Friday to raise awareness about climate change. They rallied at various points around the world, including in Baltimore, where crowds banded together outside City Hall after noon.

Students formed the core group of demonstrators, holding handmade signs that said things like "There Is No Planet B" and "The climate is changing. Why aren't we?"

Around the youths were clusters of adults who came in support of their mission.

Brooklyn Brantley, 17, a junior at Baltimore School for the Arts, said her concern for the planet motivated her to create an artwork out of trash from the city's streets. She also said that when she recently attended summer school at Digital Harbor and walked along the water to get to class, she was dismayed that "it was stinking" near the water, where she also saw ducks surrounded by trash.

"It's sad to see that," Brantley said, "to watch the earth die."

Throngs of students from Baltimore City College also attended the rally, which was announced well in advance at their school.

"It's a team effort," Kalil Sykes, 15, a sophomore at City College, added. "City is always trying to make our state better." Sykes estimated about 500 students from his school marched or took the MTA bus to the rally.

"I really wanted to rally for climate change," Alyssa Rich, 16, a sophomore, said.

"I wanted to get out of school and see" the event, Christen Davis, 15, also a sophomore, told Patch.

In addition to those from Baltimore City College, students from the Bryn Mawr School marched along Northern Parkway to Charles Street to the Inner Harbor, leaving school around 8:30 a.m. and joining the downtown rally around 12:15 p.m.

Students from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute also marched to represent their school:

Many students spoke out through a megaphone in front of City Hall, sharing their concerns about the state of the world.

Some adults also spoke, including Megan Andersen, who identified herself as a mom and an educator at the National Aquarium.

She said small steps would make a difference. "Take time each day to take a breath. Get close to nature and the people and places that you love," Andersen said. She encouraged people to talk with each other about the climate crisis and how to work together toward solutions.

Joshua Harris, who is a mayoral hopeful, noted the Green Party has proposed the Green New Deal to protect Maryland's resources and steer the state toward reliance on renewable energy in the years ahead.

"Climate change is something that impacts every single one of us," said Harris. "Climate can't wait. Our children can't wait, and we have to take action now to save our future."

When he ran for office previously, Harris said: "They told me I was too young, that I couldn't possibly understand all the issues that the city faces." He said people were wrong. "Every single great movement that we've seen historically has been led by young people," Harris said. "You are not the future leaders of tomorrow. You are the leaders of today."

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