Utah Students Skip School To Join Global Climate Change Protest
Mar 15, 2019, 1:22 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Teens around the world ditched school Friday to fight for a greener planet.
The protest is part of the Youth Strike for Climate, a day set aside for kids to walk out of school and demand action on climate change. Utah students added their voices to the movement on the steps of Utah’s Capitol.
Most of the crowd, which consisted of about 200 people, were not old enough to even vote, but they were still eager to speak out.
At least 100 Utah student gathering on the capitol steps this morning for the global #YouthStrike4Climate. Skipping school to make their voices heard. pic.twitter.com/vrdI9PBiWX
— Felicia Martinez (@FeliciaNews) March 15, 2019
Students from Park City, Brighton, Skyline, West High School and more gathered and rallied for the cause.
The peaceful protest is part of a global movement started by European teenage activist Greta Thunburg. It took place just one day shy of the legislative session.
The teens called out Utah leaders for what they call inaction and are advocating for cleaner air and the protection of Utah’s natural beauty.
“We are hoping to stop the inland port,” said Mishka Banuri, a senior at West High School. “That is one of the main things we are calling for. We are also calling for the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, also known as SITLA, to better their practices and make sure they are keeping in mind whatever they do, however they act, will impact us in the future.”
The passionate protesters also asked the BLM to stop leasing their lands out to oil and gas, and they called for the Green New Deal to be supported.
