Columbia Students To Join Global Climate Strike On Friday

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - Friday, as world leaders gather at another UN climate conference, this time in Madrid, Columbia High School students and community members in South Orange and Maplewood will once again join young people around the world in the national #ClimateStrike to take the momentum from September to elected officials’ doorsteps.

Columbia High School students of the Students for Justice Club and the Environmental Club are leading the Climate Strike in Maplewood, calling attention to the action that politicians need to take on local, national, and international levels.

"We demand that our leaders ensure us 'Clean Air, Clean Water, Clean Energy, and Justice for All.'” said Students for Justice and Environmental Club leaders in a letter to CHS Administration.

Students will walk out of their classrooms at 10:30 a.m. and begin walking towards Maplewood Town Hall for a rally starting around 10:45 a.m., open to anyone and everyone who cares about the climate crisis. The rally will include speeches from a variety of student speakers from both towns. From there, students will march to the Maplewood train station and those who are able to are encouraged to take the 11:40 a.m. train from Maplewood to Newark, to join in the state-wide climate march and rally organized by the New Jersey Climate Strike Coalition and other New Jersey based climate justice groups. Leaders will do their best to provide train tickets for those who cannot afford their own.

Participants and allies are encouraged to wear red to the strike to symbolize that the planet is still on fire.

Later in the evening, students will host a family-friendly Teach-In at the Woodland in Maplewood with tables, conversations, crafts, and action-based presentations about how to live more sustainable and environmentally friendly lives. Presentations will be led by students, teachers, organizations, and others and the event will end with an interactive musical performance. The Teach-In will be from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and is open to community members of all ages.

This day of action has been organized by the CHS students and leaders from the Students for Justice Club and the GAIA Environmental Club. The international movement was established by Greta Thunberg and coordinated by The Future Coalition, The Youth Climate Strike Coalition, the Sunrise Movement, and others. Locally, the strike has support from the Maplewood Township and the South Orange Township. The Teach-In is sponsored by the Maplewood Green Team. The organizers are grateful for the help and support of many students and adult organizations. This strike represents a partnership of environmental and social justice groups, as well as people of all ages and backgrounds, to demand our country’s leaders and the world’s leaders listen to our cries for climate justice.

Find out more information about the Columbia High School Climate Strike at @studentsforjustice and @chs_enviornmentalclub on Instagram.

Find out more information about the national strikes at https://globalclimatestrike.net/.

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