Organizers are hoping for a turnout of several thousand when students skip school and march to the State Capitol today (1130am) as part of a nationwide day of action on climate change. Mia DiLorenzo, one of the leaders of the Minnesota Youth Climate Strike says, “We are in the middle of a complete climate breakdown. World leaders and politicians alike have been acting as though everything is normal. In reality, it is the complete opposite. We can’t go about business as usual, when business as usual is killing our planet.”
Student activists joined state lawmakers Thursday afternoon as Minnesota House Democrats announced they’re forming a Climate Action Caucus. Long-time state Representative Jean Wagenius from Minneapolis says young people have told legislators they’re scared, even terrified because they’ll experience the impacts of climate change their whole lives. About a thousand students turned out for a similar climate change strike at the State Capitol in March.