Hundreds of North Atlanta High School students walked out Thursday as part of worldwide protests focusing on climate change dangers.
The rally, held in a field near the school, was approved by Atlanta Public Schools administrators. But a large group of students who joined the protesters interrupted their classmates’ speeches with several bursts of “USA” chants and booing.
Student activists tried to carry on with their prepared remarks, urging students to pay attention to what they said is a crisis.
"We are the leaders of the younger generation, and we have the opportunity to tell everyone that we are going to ruin the earth if we do not step up and say something now," said Danielle Milburn, an 18-year-old senior who helped organize the event.
The North Atlanta event is part of the Global Climate Strike, happening Sept. 20-27. Students in the United States and other countries have walked out of school last week and this week to bring attention to the consequences of climate change and call for action.
The strike has been promoted by 16-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
Last Friday, hundreds of adults and students gathered at the state Capitol bearing a similar message.
APS administrators agreed to let students hold the event during the school day and worked with students to develop a plan. APS took a similar stance in March, 2018, when the district allowed students to leave class to protest gun violence after a mass shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school. Those protests were part of a nationwide school walkout movement and garnered widespread participation across metro Atlanta.
“In keeping with Atlanta Public Schools’ long-standing support of student advocacy and allowing them to engage in safe, structured, student-led civic activities around national dialogues, APS supports students who plan to participate in national student walkouts intended to raise awareness about climate change,” district spokesman Ian Smith said, in a written statement.
Credit: Rebecca Wright
Credit: Rebecca Wright
North Atlanta students who supported the walkout carried signs that said “There is no planet B” and “The climate is changing why aren’t we?” Gillian Schuh, a 17-year-old senior, held a sign that read “I bet the dinosaurs thought they had time too.”
She said she tries to stay informed about environmental concerns and is working to change some of her habits.
“I think it’s important that people understand how drastic the situation is,” she said.
Cole Bickerstaff, a 17-year-old senior who helped organize the protest, urged students to take small steps to help the environment. He suggested recycling, carpooling and eating less meat.
Not every student at the walkout was there to call for environmental action. A couple of students held signs that said “extend lunch” and “free parking passes.” Chants and shouts from other students sometimes drowned out the climate demonstrators, but didn’t appear to have a specific focus.
Credit: Rebecca Wright
Credit: Rebecca Wright
Soleil Golden, a 17-year-old senior and president of the high school’s environmental club, said she was prepared for some students “to heckle.”
“We knew that something like that was going to happen. A lot of kids were just going to step out just so they could get out of class, but, honestly, I’m really glad that we got our message across,” she said.
