Students May Skip School, Strike In Princeton For Climate Change

PRINCETON, NJ — Students may be skipping school across the United States and in Princeton on Friday to push for climate change and strike.

Princeton University did not know if any students skipped class on Friday for the strike but are aware of their activity and advocacy.

"We of course support dialogue across our entire community around issues of national and global impact. Princeton – its students and faculty – is indeed a leader in research into climate change and solutions," said Ben Chang, Princeton University spokesperson and director of media relations.

The Princeton Police reported no permits were issued for any organized protests taking place on Friday.

"We have heard several students from area high schools may have taken part in a social gathering at Hinds Plaza, which required no police supervision," Sgt. Frederick R. Williams of Princeton Police said.

Locally four protests have been set up across the Garden State by NJ Climate Strike including at Hinds Plaza, 65 Witherspoon St. in Princeton. Other strikes are taking place in Montclair, Mahwah and Morristown.

Students cheer speeches at Montclair HS #YouthClimateStrike ⁦@NJClimateStrike⁩ pic.twitter.com/pBVYLDefYo
— Kara Yorio (@karayorio) March 15, 2019

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.

The worldwide movement was started after 16-year-old Greta Thunberg began missing school on Fridays to protest outside the Swedish parliament. Half a year later, more than 70 countries and more than 500 cities all around the globe have joined the cause demanding political leaders to act, according to US Youth Climate Strike.

Princeton Public Schools has not immediately responded to Patch's request about students who may have skipped school.

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