Climate change march held at city hall
A rally in city hall to support action on climate change took place on Sept. 20.
The rally attendees came from different groups, ages and backgrounds, who all gathered to show support for their cause. Groups that participated were Green Gasparilla and March for Our Lives.
“I was there for March for Our Lives, and we had a table set up to sign to ban assault weapons,” sophomore Rowan O’ Flannagan said. “It was outside of city hall in Downtown Tampa. I think it was a good location because it is the heart of the city and it’s really visible and easy to get to.”
The event had some participants who came to spread their message and show politicians what they believe and practice. Those who came are frequent march goers and continue to go to marches to try making a difference in politics.
“Our world is really falling apart, and we have the power to stop it, but like people are choosing not to,” O’ Flannagan said. “I think it is important to go to the marches to show people in power that we’re listening, paying attention, and this is what’s important.”
After they held 11 minutes of silence to symbolize the years left to fight climate change, speakers lined up to speak to the audience. They included Mayor Jane Castor and sophomore Stella Doherty.
“During my speech, I talked about what it’s like trying to do normal teenage things while also prepping for your future as like a refugee by climate change,” Doherty said. “Just how it’s really difficult to do normal things which we should be doing when the world is literally on fire.”
Attendees held signs and participated in chants initiated by the guest speakers to show support for the cause. Some of those who attended are frequent participants in climate change activism and support.
“I’ve always sort of been involved, like my family has always been advocates for sustainability,” Doherty said. “But the March for Science a couple of years ago is when I first started, and after I began to go to more and more rallies.”
The march wasn’t just held in one location, but it was a worldwide march, all in the same effort to end climate change. Though the people who attended wasn’t the largest, what made it important is that it was part of a shared goal throughout many different people in the world.
“Well if you look at the marches around the world the one that we have an example is not even a percentage of those in Germany where 500,000 people were marching for their lives and to protect our Earth,” sophomore Marly Lopez said. “I think if we do nothing, then the order will just be maintained through force and nothing will be done.”
