St. Pete climate strike draws more than 1,000

70825819_10158721630094256_6363367410531041280_n
The rally and march was part of a global day of action.

More than 1,000 people crowded the streets of downtown St. Petersburg Friday to demand action on climate change as part of the Global Climate Strike happening throughout the world.

That number is according to the Suncoast Sierra Club’s count of people who attended both the march and preceding rally at St. Pete City Hall.

The march flooded city streets, blocked intersections and led to the St. Petersburg Police Department shutting down portions of First Avenue North.

“This, by the end of the day, will likely be the biggest mass mobilizations around climate change in world history,” said Sierra Club member and one of the event’s organizers Tim Martin.

The march was part of a global day of action in which students and workers globally walked out of classrooms and their jobs to send a message to policymakers that climate change is a crisis that needs to be addressed immediately.

“There is no more climate change debate. Enough,” St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman said from the steps of City Hall to a thunderous outburst of applause. “The science has long been settled. Reasonable people know this — the climate emergency is well underway.”

The Global Climate Strike is the brain child of 16-year-old Greta Thunberg of Sweden who began her own Friday strikes demanding action. Thunberg traveled to the U.S. on a zero emissions boat instead of flying to participate in actions ahead of the U.N. Climate Summit.

“Greta has put out a clarion call. Young people, indigenous people, people of color, immigrants, the poor — these groups are least responsible for climate change yet disproportionately feel most of its effects,” Martin said.

The St. Pete march drew on the collective creativity of St. Pete. Some people carried signs with popular messages like, “there is no planet B” and others calling out the fossil fuel industry.

Others wore elaborate costumes like a chipmunk with its tail on fire, oil industry executives carrying a bound planet earth and others dressed as villains.

They marched from City Hall to Williams Park chanting things like “who’s got the power, we’ve got the power” and “keep fossil fuels in the ground.”

The crowd included ages ranging from infants to elderly.

Martin sent a message to the youngsters in the crowd.

“They don’t have the luxury of riding this one out,” he said. “The message to you, keep pushing those of us who are not so young. Our lives and future depend on it.”

Janelle Irwin Taylor

Janelle Irwin Taylor has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in Tampa Bay since 2003. Most recently, Janelle reported for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. She formerly served as senior reporter for WMNF News. Janelle has a lust for politics and policy. When she’s not bringing you the day’s news, you might find Janelle enjoying nature with her husband, children and two dogs. You can reach Janelle at [email protected].


2 comments

  • Lucinda Johnston

    September 20, 2019 at 5:51 pm

    Great coverage. As one of the more seasoned marchers I was overwhelmed with gratitude so many came out to march for the survival of our species. Kudos to St Petersburg Police Department for protecting free speech as well as keeping marchers and drivers safe. It was a good day.

  • gary

    September 21, 2019 at 2:01 am

    just another magic bum day! No real thing!

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories