Youth Climate Rally Comes to Raleigh

On the grassy expanse in front of the NC Education Center, a unique mixture of people gathers. Arriving in bunches, each has their own motivation to be there on that beautiful Friday afternoon. High schoolers congregate together, pairs of mother and son spread out blankets on the field, and a few hippies in khakis and a vest stride in purposefully. Regardless of origin, regardless of race or status, they have all joined together in support of one cause: the need to stop climate change.

The issue has cycled in and out of the mainstream media for years, passing through bouts of sudden popularity and empty neglection. Recently, though, the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Climate Agreement has thrust the topic into the spotlight. The US government seems to be in a limbo state: depending on the events to come, our country’s decisions in the years to come will define the issue more than ever before. As the clock ticks down, the climate change crisis becomes progressively urgent.

Enter the Youth Climate Strike. On March 15th, students across the world walked out of school to protest the lack of governmental progress regarding climate resolutions. Greta Thunberg, a Swedish 16-yr-old, kickstarted the event with her speech to the UN in December. From there, the impetus to support change swept across the world, eventually making its way to our very own Raleigh.

After the walkout, a rally was held on the lawn in front of the NC Education Building. Multiple speakers, ranging from high school students to members of the General Assembly, spoke about the need for rapid action to combat climate change. The rally began with speeches from high school students Mary Kate Giuffrida and Lauren Smith, who both spoke primarily of the rapidly diminishing time frame that we have to solve the issue. According to current reports, an increase of 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius will bring the world to a point of no return; and at current rates, this point is projected to be no more than 12 years away. “At this point in time, it has become a necessity.,” Smith expressed. “It’s like a real life domino effect—and we can’t let those dominoes fall.”

Next to speak was Allison Dahle, a member of the NC House of Representatives. Speaking with vigor and passion, she expressed her support for the high schoolers in attendance—both those speaking and listening.

Enloe had a strong presence in this rally, making up a sizable portion of the audience and supplying two speakers: Jasmin Benas and Joey Marmaud. Benas (11) spoke passionately about her experiences fighting food deserts in Wake County. She then called for the solution to climate change to include a sustainable food system. “We cannot allow people to die because they are too poor to live.”

Joey Marmaud (11) has a long history in political involvement. In his rousing speech, he revealed to the gathered crowd that climate change was actually what motivated him to begin his social and political advocacy career. Marmaud called for a “bold, decisive plan” and urged the local, state, and national-level politicians to discuss climate change as a real issue.

By the conclusion of the rally,, each attendee seemed to share a collection of similar sentiments:

That the laws regarding climate in our world must be changed;

That it must be accomplished with urgency, and;

Nothing will be accomplished unless we listen to one another, and unite.

As Giuffrida put it, “If we don’t do that, then we don’t have a chance for a better world.”