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Climate strike event attracts 100,000 marchers, brings CBD to standstill

Organisers claim 150,000 protesters took to the streets in a student-led climate strike that brought Melbourne’s CBD to a halt on Friday.

Josh Fagan and Alanah Frost
4 min read
September 20, 2019 - 8:30PM
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A massive climate rally that brought Melbourne’s CBD to a standstill has been hailed as bigger than the AFL Grand Final, with an estimated 150,000 people joining the student-led protest.

“The grand final’s a one-day event, this is an age-defining issue,” 16-year-old event organiser Alice Caldwell said.

People of all ages held signs and marched through the city as workers took the afternoon off and children skipped school, and kinder, to take part in the global day of action.

Students from RMIT University who ditched class to attend the rally were told they would get full marks on an assignment if they sent their lecturer a group selfie from the strike.

The scene outside State Parliament in Spring St. Picture: Alex Coppel
The scene outside State Parliament in Spring St. Picture: Alex Coppel
Protesters swarm the Old Treasury Building on Spring St. Picture: AAP
Protesters swarm the Old Treasury Building on Spring St. Picture: AAP
Organisers estimated 100,000 people attended the march. Picture: Jay Town
Organisers estimated 100,000 people attended the march. Picture: Jay Town
Spring St was blocked. Picture: AAP
Spring St was blocked. Picture: AAP

The crowd filled Treasury Gardens and overflowed into Collins St, before a huge sea of people carried banners in a parade through the top end of the city.

There was a carnival-like atmosphere throughout, with colourful costumes, marching bands, circus performers, bongos, DJs blasting songs on large speakers and multiple megaphones.

Teenagers jostled for good vantage points by standing on top of tram stops and climbing street lamps.

Some of the signs read: “we are missing the Area 51 raid for this”, “striking kinder kids” and “Baby Boomers supporting kids strike 4 climate”.

Students with handpainted signs at the rally. Picture: James Ross/AAP.
Students with handpainted signs at the rally. Picture: James Ross/AAP.

One opted for a footy theme with a picture of Dustin Martin and the words “Don’t Argue with science”, while others took aim at Prime Minister Scott Morrison, with several depicting him in a bikini.

Organiser Alice said she was hopeful the big turnout would send an emphatic message to politicians.

“It goes to show this is the will of the people. The will of the people is to take action on climate change and our government currently is not reflecting that,” she said.

Four-year-old Xavier Nannery came from Sunbury with his mother, grandmother and younger sister and said the message to leaders was: “we need to change what we’re doing”.

Xavier added: “We can stop making plastic and all that. We need to use electric cars.

“I reckon we’re going to change the climate.”

His mother, Sarah Nannery, said she was impressed with the younger generations taking a stand.

Tram routes 11, 12, 48, 70, 75 and 109, which run on Flinders, Collins and Spring streets, were affected affected but resumed in the early evening.

Protesters suffering asthma and hayfever were warned to be prepared, amid hot and blustery conditions sweeping Melbourne today.

About 50,000 people rallied at the climate strike in Melbourne in March and today’s event was tipped to draw a far bigger crowd, falling on the final day of the school term.

Protesters gather in Melbourne to march on climate change. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Protesters gather in Melbourne to march on climate change. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Protesters flocked to Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens at 2pm. Picture: James Ross/AAP.
Protesters flocked to Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens at 2pm. Picture: James Ross/AAP.
Crowds on the steps of Geelong’s City Hall. Picture: Alison Wynd
Crowds on the steps of Geelong’s City Hall. Picture: Alison Wynd

“It’s a great turnout,” she said. “They’re super aware of the impacts of climate change. It’s good to see.”

There were several speeches in Treasury Gardens that attracted boos whenever fossil fuels and the Adani coal mine in Queensland were mentioned.

People are seen arriving to the Global Strike 4 Climate rally, Melbourne, Friday, September 20, 2019. Picture: James Ross/AAP.
People are seen arriving to the Global Strike 4 Climate rally, Melbourne, Friday, September 20, 2019. Picture: James Ross/AAP.
Climate strike participants heading into Melbourne CBD. Picture: Twitter/@adropex
Climate strike participants heading into Melbourne CBD. Picture: Twitter/@adropex
Students gather prior to the start of the Global Strike 4 Climate rally. Source: James Ross/AAP.
Students gather prior to the start of the Global Strike 4 Climate rally. Source: James Ross/AAP.

Twelve-year-old Elodie Marriott and her twin sister Josie said they had permission from teachers at Huntingtower school in Mount Waverley to take the afternoon off.

Elodie held a sign saying “I may have a twin but the earth doesn’t”.

The student-run event was backed by multiple businesses and unions.

RMIT stood by the actions of the lecturer who offered the attendance deal to students.

STUDENTS OFFERED MARKS FOR SKIPPING UNI

A lecturer at RMIT University offered students full marks on an assignment if they attend today’s climate strike.

The senior lecturer, from the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, wrote an email to students stating: “you could get full marks … if you attend the climate Strike today in Melbourne”.

“All you need to do is to email me a group selfie while in the crowd for the strike.”

The photo, posted online, has sparked a heated debate, with some arguing the email is “bribing students”.

Others came to the defence of the lecturer, saying it should be an option for “all classes.”

A university spokesperson confirmed they were aware of the email but maintained the extra-curricular activity was in line with a current project.

“Students in this course are currently completing a design project, and a component of this project relates to environmental impact and ethics,” the spokesperson said.

“While the teacher has determined that the conversation at today’s global climate strike is educational and relevant to the learning for this project, RMIT will of course be looking at the decision to ensure that assessment integrity is maintained.”

Screen shot of lecturers email to students.
Screen shot of lecturers email to students.

The assessment in question made up 5 per cent of students grades.

In a statement, RMIT said they had a “longstanding commitment to sustainability” and acknowledged the wishes of both students and teachers to participate in today’s rally.

“Climate change is a serious issue for us all and we know that many of our students and staff are passionate about how they can make a change.

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“With RMIT’s responsibility to the broader community front of mind, our goal of positive sustainable outcomes and practices is, and always will be, integral to how we operate.

“We acknowledge there are a number of students who wish to participate in the strike and our staff have been working to ensure they would not be disadvantaged in doing so.”

josh.fagan@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/climate-strike-event-set-to-attract-100k-marchers-on-friday/news-story/a6f36504e5beef7545af3d19828d33f8