Youth Activists Plan Massive Intergenerational Climate Strike in Washington, DC
Kimberly Gutzler | kimberly@nationalchildrenscampaign.org | 202.476.9141
Fridays for Future, Zero Hour, National Children’s Campaign, OneMillionOfUs, 350.org, DC Youth Climate Strike, and others, plan a mass mobilization in coordination with worldwide climate strikes on September 20, 2019.
EVENT NAME: DC Climate Strike
WHERE: Starting at the front gates of the White House on Pennsylvania Ave NW, then marching to the Capitol Building
WHEN: September 20th, 2019, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST)
WHY: To demand immediate action from our elected representatives in Washington, DC to stymie the climate crisis and to advocate for our shared human right to clean air, clean water, and a survivable future
Since Greta Thunberg’s first school strike for climate a year ago, young people have revolutionized the way humanity perceives the scope of the climate crisis. On September 20, 2019, young people will kick off a worldwide week of action with an international strike. September 20th will be the largest mass mobilization for climate action in human history.This time, adults will be joining the youth-led call for climate action to demand world leaders take meaningful steps to address this crisis with the urgency it requires. Youth and adults will stand arm-in-arm in the fight together for the future of humanity.
In Washington, DC, thousands of people with join us to demand climate actions and local youth organizers from over a dozen organizations, including Fridays for Future, Zero Hour, OneMillionOfUs, 350.org, DC Youth Climate Strike, National Children’s Campaign, and Our Children’s Trust, will strike in solidarity with millions of people around the world to demand a safe and survivable future. The DC Climate Strike will show our leaders that we will not stand idly by while our future is sold to the highest bidder and the biggest polluters. Our generation is here to say enough is enough and now is the time for immediate climate action.
Nadia Nazar, Co-founder, Co-Executive Director and Art Director, Zero Hour (17-years-old, Baltimore, Maryland)
“It is so powerful to see that the strikes are going on strong. And we will not back down, we will only continue to get stronger because the climate crisis is about survival as people and animals on this planet. Youth will shake the systems that hold us captive again!”
Jerome Foster II, Founder and Executive Director, OneMillionOfUs (17-years-old, Washington, DC)
“We are the leaders of change, it starts now and it starts with us. Today we strike and tomorrow we vote. And in 2020, one million of us will vote. I am the original White House Climate Striker. I was born and raised in Washington, DC at the epicenter of civil disobedience and protest. Growing up and learning about the civil rights movement, I learned that while they were fighting for equality, we are just fighting for our survival. We are all of us united, every nation and every human being alike. Since we are all united in this global crisis, then we all must be united in our solution.”
Serena Moscarella, Local DC youth leader and climate striker (17-years-old, Bethesda, Maryland)
“Our movement is only growing stronger. As a young latina, throughout my whole life my own capabilities have been questioned by those in power. Being a leader of the climate strike movement has allowed me to show those very people in power that latinas are strong and that the youth do not back down. Together, united behind the science, we will make the impossible possible.”
Sophia Geiger, Fridays for Future USA weekly striker and organizer (16 years old, Silver Spring, Maryland)
“We are striking to disrupt business as usual, because business as usual is a death sentence to my generation, generations yet to come, and communities already feeling the impacts of the climate crisis first hand. We as a people and a country have vowed to fight for justice and liberty and so cannot stand idly by while so many are denied these basic rights by blatant inaction on the Climate Emergency. We cannot afford to postpone change any longer when the cost is the present and future of our planet and those who call it home.”
Jonah Gottlieb, Co-Founder and Executive Director, National Children’s Campaign (17-years-old, Petaluma, CA)
“As someone from a community that has been devastated by wildfires multiple times over the last three years, I have seen firsthand the tangible effects of natural disasters exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change on students and young people. The National Children’s Campaign and our partners are proud to organize the DC Climate Strike and help lead this intergenerational coalition that will demand climate justice and show our nation’s leaders that we will not allow our future to be sold in exchange for campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry.”
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Youth-Led Organizations: Fridays for Future, Zero Hour, National Children’s Campaign, OneMillionOfUs, DC Youth Climate Strike, Future Coalition, Our Children’s Trust, Earth Uprising, and Schools for Climate Action
Adult-Led Organizations: 350.org, Sunrise Movement, League of Conservation Voters, Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion, One Earth Sangha, and Citizens Climate Lobby
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