Teen Environmentalists Hold 'Climate Strike' In Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A youth-led protest was slated to take place in Montclair on Friday, March 15 in solidarity with the US Youth Climate Strikes taking place across the nation.

The strikes are part of a global effort to bring attention to world leaders "who have yet to acknowledge, prioritize, or properly address our climate crisis," according to US Youth Climate Strike.

A rally was slated to take place in Montclair on March 15, according to the US Youth Climate Strike website.

Locally, multiple people posted videos and photos of a large gathering at Montclair High School on Friday, apparently in solidarity with the national strikes. (Story continues below)

Montclair Schools Superintendent Kendra Johnson told Patch that the activity was "student-led."

"To that end, only the students can respond to your questions to this student-led activity," she stated.

Locally, four protests have been set up across the Garden State. Other rallies are reportedly set for Princeton, Mahwah and Morristown, although it was not immediately clear if any actions took place at those locations Friday.

• See related article: Students May Skip School, Strike In Princeton For Climate Change

Here’s why protesters are rallying, according to organizers:

“We, the youth of America, are striking because the science says we have just a few years to transform our energy system, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent the worst effects of climate change. We are striking because our world leaders have yet to acknowledge, prioritize, or properly address our climate crisis. We are striking because marginalized communities across our nation —especially communities of color, disabled communities, and low- income communities— are already disproportionately impacted by climate change. We are striking because if the social order is disrupted by our refusal to attend school, then the system is forced to face the climate crisis and enact change. With our futures at stake, we call for radical legislative action to combat climate change and its countless detrimental effects on the American people. We are striking for the Green New Deal, for a fair and just transition to a 100% renewable economy, and for ending the creation of additional fossil fuel infrastructure. Additionally, we believe the climate crisis should be declared a national emergency because we are running out of time.”

Here are some of their demands, organizers wrote:

• A halt in any and all fossil fuel infrastructure projects All decisions made by the government be based on the best-available and most-current scientific research.
• Declaring a National Emergency on Climate Change
• Compulsory comprehensive education on climate change and its impacts throughout grades K-8
• Preserving our public lands and wildlife
• Keeping our water supply clean

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