‘We need change.’ Students, activists continue weekly climate strikes in State College
Students and community members returned to downtown State College Friday to call attention to climate change, something many of them have been doing for months.
With a goal of holding leaders accountable and creating awareness, members of the Sunrise Movement, Fridays for the Future, the Youth Climate Strike Coalition and allies have participated in weekly climate strikes — inspired by Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg — in downtown State College since September’s Global Climate Strike.
“Climate change is here, and it’s happening,” said Siddhi Deshpande, co-leader of the State College Sunrise Hub. “It isn’t a far-off problem anymore because lives are being threatened. Denial is simply not an option.”
Over 25 people — including some local high school students — attended the strike, marching from the State College Municipal Building to the steps of Old Main.
In September, the Youth Climate Strike declared five policy demands for elected officials to consider when making environmental policies: respect for indigenous land, environmental justice, protecting biodiversity, the implementation of sustainable agriculture and a Green New Deal. Friday’s strike was held in response to COP25, an international climate conference held in Chile where world leaders discuss the implementation of the Paris Agreement — a pact President Donald Trump has said he plans to withdraw from.
“Since leading State College in the first global climate strike ... I’ve seen a lot of positive change,” said Abbie La Porta, co-leader of the State College Sunrise Hub. “More people than ever are talking about the climate crisis, and not only that, but talking solutions.”
La Porta has been participating in climate strikes almost every week since they started. She thinks people are starting to see the “bigger picture” and the role politics play in “the destruction of our environment.”
“We are holding elected officials accountable for their actions,” she said. “We are noticing when they make decisions that put their personal economic gain above the health of society, and we are calling them out.”
While Centre County has not been subject to natural disasters like the California wildfires and southern hurricanes, climate change is something people should be concerned about worldwide, La Porta said.
“Human beings all over the world are in danger because our leaders are prioritizing profit over people, and we will not stand for it,” La Porta said. “We need change.”
Faith Kinglsey, who is home schooled, attended Friday’s protest with her mom. A member of Fridays for the Future, Kingsley said it is important for people to fight for what they believe in. A usual climate striker, she said she has noticed changes in the community and has seen an increase in awareness.
“I think if people just assume someone else will take care of the problem, we’re all going to be in trouble,” she said.
Although the climate strikes and weekly demonstrations have sparked a conversation, the coalition’s work is not done. Members said they plan to continue the Friday demonstrations as well as holding local events.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” La Porta said. “People all over the world are being driven out of their homes or dying due to flooding, drought, fires and storms. We need to act fast. With this strike, we put the pressure on our governments to enact a Green New Deal, and we call for environmental justice. Resources and support should go to the communities most affected.”
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 3:22 PM.
