I went to the climate strike in Boston, and there sure were a lot of people there. Vox said there were over 2,500 events scheduled in over 163 countries on all seven continents. Millions of people. I even saw a photo on Twitter of the little group of strikers in Antarctica!
I took the train into town, along with a lot of high school students who had received school permission to participate. People under 20 from the region organized the whole thing. Pretty impressive.
Participating organizations were more numerous than I could count. I was glad to see, in addition to the group Massachusetts Climate Strike, the Sunrise Movement, 350, and Zero Hour. I had heard a great talk by two college-age leaders of Zero Hour the Sunday before.
Some fringe organizations that demonstrated at the Boston rally were less uplifting to my way of thinking, but that’s what’s meant by Freedom of Assembly in the Constitution. Democracy can only benefit from freedom of speech and assembly.
David L. Ryan of the Boston Globe got a more panoramic view of the immense crowd than I was able to capture. See it here.
I have to say, the young people’s anxiety about their futures was palpable and made me want to do more to help.
I think that it’s so cool you did this!
I want to invent — or have someone invent — a way to carry a poster of my own without getting tired arms. A hat poster would work. Maybe a backpack poster. But no worries. There were enough yesterday without mine.
Sorry I missed you. Did you walk on to the State House? I know several of our college students attended; I hope our high school students did. I saw one from Cambridge, but there was a Cambridge HS rally at the Harvard Science Center at 11 so the students may have stayed there.
I didn’t do the State House, too. Even with my shorter commitment, I still needed a nap!
I wish there were a “love” button at the end of this post. How wonderful that you went, and I was moved by your observation of the anxiety of the young people. They have every right to feel anxiety. They are the ones who will be paying a steep price.
Some are afraid to have children of their own. Wow. But Earth will always need children raised by thoughtful parents.
How great that you took part! This was an amazing day–I really, really hope the politicians are paying attention. These young people will be voting soon and they will make a use that power to make a difference!
I hope the ones who are now eligible to vote will talk their friends into voting. Too many stood on the sidelines in recent elections.