2019 Global Climate Strike in Photos [and Captions]

The Global Climate Strike 2019 in Boston, MA took place on September 20th. Hundreds of people marched to City Hall, bringing signs and carrying their voices and opinions with them. Although many people of all ages are seen, it is quite evident that the majority of the people who attended were of youth. Many protesters were of the younger generation, voicing their concerns that this issue is something that greatly affects their futures.

Talking to a friend, Monica Briggs wears a “Community Choice Energy” quote on her hat to encourage more energy efficient buildings for the community. Briggs is a part of the Boston Climate Action Network and shows her support at the Climate Strike by holding a large sign which states “There ain’t no sea wall high enough.” “We build one sea wall and we’ll need to make it higher,” she explained, “that is not the solution.”

Briggs said that building a sea wall will cost the country “billions of dollars” along with the fact that it is a “war method,” not a “healing method.” “Building walls has always been a male-oriented approach to problems,” Briggs explained, “Like what Trump is doing.”

Many of the signs that people held showed their concerns of a burning earth.

Standing with her mom, nine-year-old Athena Montori holds up her sign as she listens to the various guest speakers on stage. Even at her young age, Montori understands that she needs a “livable climate to stay alive on.” Montori says loves camping and hearing the sounds of nature. “I want to see polar bears start making a comeback and Antarctica stop melting,” Montori said.

A graduate student from UMass Boston, Dira holds her sign above the crowd. She explained that although it took her awhile to write her message, she finds it most important that the government start changing some policies. “There’s not a lot that, as individual consumers, we can do, but where you need to start from is the bigger picture,” Dira said.

Many young people attended the climate strike that took place on the 20th of September. Carrying signs that voiced their opinions and concerns, many of the protesters’ signs expressed concern about being the last generation if things do not start changing.

Both seniors at Boston Latin School, Morgan Stevenson-Swadling and Calvin Szulc initially did not bring posters and signs and so they quickly went to the nearest Staples to buy paint, paintbrushes, and poster boards. After twenty minutes of sitting on the sidewalk crafting their signs, they came up with this: “Do you want us to be the last generation?” and “All of us are fucked.” Explaining his sign, Szulc said, “If we are the last generation, it doesn’t just affect us. It affects every single person, no matter your race, your class, or where you are.”

Having gone to the first Earth Day in 1970, and many more after that, Caroline Whiting stands with a smile as she waves her earth flag. She has had her flag since “the 70s, maybe the 80s,” and brings it with her to every rally she could attend. Whiting is “delighted” to have seen an increase of young showing up to rallies and strikes for climate change. “However,” she said, “we certainly still have a long way to go.”

All photos taken and edited by Tivara Tanudjaja.