About 2,000 students and local residents gathered at the University of Michigan's Ingalls Mall on Friday to take part in a youth-led global climate strike. Similar strikes were held in all seven continents. 89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan attended the local strike and has the story.
"Climate strike Ingalls Mall. Let's go."
University of Michigan students entered classrooms on campus this morning encouraging other students to walk out and join the strike. Like millions of other young people around the world, local students want politicians to address issues such as air pollution and water contamination. University of Michigan student Jacob Inosencio attended the strike.
Jacob Inosencio: People want to say we're the leaders of tomorrow, I don't really agree with that. I think we're the leaders of right now. I think many nations have failed, I think the United States has failed.
Students of all ages from Washtenaw County took part in the strike. Eight year-old Sam Westhoff from the Ann Arbor Open Schoolwas there on a field trip.
Sam Westhoff: I like to swim in the ocean, but if we keep littering, the ocean is just going to be full of trash.
The strike comes three days before world leaders host a Climate Action Summit in New York.
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— Jorge Avellan is a reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him javellan@emich.edu
