Climate Strikes In Montgomery County Begin

BETHESDA, MD — In an effort to draw greater attention to the global climate crisis, youth from around the world and across the United States staged 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.

Millions of people walked out of their schools, workplaces, and homes in solidarity, and organizers in Montgomery County scheduled the strike to take place on Friday, Sept. 20 at the following times and locations:

• BETHESDA (TO DC): 20 Sep 2019 @ 10:00am Starbucks at Bethesda Metro. 1 Metro Center Bethesda MD US 20814
• MOCO STUDENT STRIKERS KICKOFF RALLY: 20 Sep 2019 @ 09:00am Silver Spring Metro Station. 8400 Colesville Road Silver Spring MD US 20910

The international protest came 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.

"Together, we will sound the alarm and show our politicians that business as usual is no longer an option," reads the official Global Climate Strike Page. "The climate crisis won't wait, so neither will we."

MCPS Won't Excuse Students From Class

Students across Montgomery County skipped school on Friday for the strike.

Last week, Rosie Clemans-Cope, a sixth grader at Pyle Middle School in Bethesda, asked County Executive Marc Elrich if schools would permit students to skip class for the event, WAMU 88.5 reports.

"Because Marc is like the president of the county," explained Clemans-Cope.

Elrich decided to send a letter to the school board and superintendent, asking if students could be excused from classes.

"I understand that you have many issues to consider when making this type of decision," Elrich wrote, according to WAMU 88.5. "But I do think it could be allowed within certain parameters such as requiring parental consent (like NYC schools are doing); requiring evidence of their attendance (via a photo) and follow-up summary of the event."

Last week, New York City announced it would not penalize students who walked out for the protest — as long as they got the OK from parents.

Montgomery County school administrators, however, rejected Elrich's request.

"We strongly support student advocacy and we’re always very proud of students when they speak out for what they believe in," a spokesperson for Montgomery County Public Schools said in a statement to multiple media outlets. "Leaving school property is very disruptive to instruction, for other students, for our teachers, but most importantly, poses a significant safety risk."

In response to MCPS' decision, students have created a Change.org petition, calling on administrators to refrain from taking any disciplinary action and designating Sept. 20 as a no-test day.

As of 11:30 a.m. Friday, 230 have signed the petition. The goal is to get 500 signatures.