Armed with handmade signs and their voices, the Drew Environmental Action League took part in an environmental walkout in New York City among 1,000 other students, calling for a focus on ending the production of oil, gas and coal.
As protesters marched through the city, they chanted climate protest favorites such as “What do we want? Climate justice. When do we want it? Now.” and as they crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, “The people, united, will never be defeated.”
Drew students marched alongside New York high school students on Sept. 20 to encourage the voice of teenage protesters and to raise awareness of the actions that the fossil fuel industry has been taking. The organization that held this event, Fridays For Future, invited students to walk out of their classrooms to join the march inspired by the work of Greta Thunberg.
The march began in Lower Manhattan in Foley Square and ended with a gathering at the United Nations building with speakers calling for action.
The main demand raised by the protest was for the Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the Climate Change Superfund Act. The act would require polluting companies in the state to pay into a fund that could be used for weather resiliency and preparation projects. This bill has already been passed, it only needs a signature from the governor.
Environmental activist Roishetta Ozane, CEO of the Vessel Project, and Indigenous rights activists such as Xananine Ramirez and Lucia Ixchiu led students through moving speeches about experiences with the climate industry and why big corporations need to stop funding the oil, coal and gas industries.
“The large crowd last year was incredible,” Rebecah Bashant (‘25), treasurer of the Action League, shared. “But it is still impactful to take part in a movement such as this even with less people physically present. I found it to be a very important educational experience both years that I have participated.”
Drew University supports the students in their fight for action.
Not only has Drew given full support to students to attend protests, it has also given students the opportunity to attend and create all types of strikes, both on and off campus in many different fields.
Last year, Drew sent students to New York to participate in the March to End Fossil Fuels, organized by Fridays For Future. Over 75,000 people attended this protest in support of Climate Week.
Climate Week takes place the second to last week in September. It features important figures in climate activism joining together with government representatives, business leaders and civilians who encourage those in positions of power to make choices that support the clean energy transfer.
Climate Week holds a series of weeklong activities in collaboration with the U.N. General Assembly and the City of New York.
This year’s protest took place the week before Climate Week in order to pressure government officials to make decisions regarding climate change acts.
Allison Cannon is a first-year double-majoring in psychology and studio art, with a minor in Spanish.
Featured image courtesy of Anna Beth Lee.
