Hundreds of students skip school for Schools Strike 4 Climate Rally in Melb CBD
Hundreds of Victorian students have ditched class to join teachers and parents in Melbourne’s CBD in a rally for climate action.
Victoria
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Hundreds of Victorian students, teachers and parents have descended on Melbourne city streets for the national Schools Strike 4 Climate Rally.
After kicking off the rally at Flagstaff gardens on Friday afternoon just after 1pm, protesters marched down Queen St chanting “power to the people” and “fossil fuels have to go”.
About half an hour later, the group stopped at an intersection on Lonsdale and Queen streets, holding up several motorists, some of which used their horn in support.
A police spokesperson said approximately 500 people attended the student climate protest.
“There were no arrests, and the group were compliant with police directions,” they said
Mum Lucy Hawkins brought her six-year-old daughter, Josephine, to the rally.
“She wanted to come down and see what it was all about because she cares about the planet,” she told the Herald Sun.
Josephine missed school today to attend the rally.
“I toyed with the idea of calling her school this morning and saying she was sick and I thought no, we’ll, do the honest answer and tell them what we’re doing,” she said.
There was a strong police presence monitoring the crowd.
At the start of the march, protesters were instructed that they didn’t have to talk to police if they were approached, rather direct them to a “police marshall”.
Schools Strike 4 Climate is a student-led group, which is leading protests right across the nation today.
The group is calling on the Albanese government to take action as the world faces “a climate emergency”.
They’re demanding the government introduce no new coal, oil or gas projects in a bid to reach net zero by 2030.
They’re also calling for 100 per cent renewable energy generations and exports by 2030.
It comes after the federal government recently approve four new coal mines in addition to the Adani mine, according to the group’s website.
Protesters blocked off the Spencer and Lonsdale street intersection in front of the Southern Cross station carpark about 2.20pm.
“The youth are rising, no more compromising,” they chanted.
Year 8 student Samira left school early to attend the rally.
“The Labor government isn’t doing enough and they’re trying to offer new coal mines which are going to absolutely burn our future,” she said.
She said she attended the rally to show the Albanese government students were “not backing down” until climate change was taken seriously.
Leader of the Victorian Greens Samantha Ratnam was also at the rally.
Retired teacher and supporter Viola said she was proud to see the students “take the lead”.
“It’s their lives their futures. I’ll be gone soon but they’re demanding that the government considers their duty of care to all future generations,” she said.
While hundreds of students sat on the La Trobe St bridge at 3pm, year 10 student Josie said she had to miss school today because the “planet is scorching”.
“The planet is scorching as we speak, our houses are on fire, and the ones who have the power to save us are blindfolded (and not listening) to our demands and our screams for help,” she told supporters in a speech.
Students chanted the song recited in parliament earlier this week as they sat outside the Victorian Labor Office in Docklands.
“History will remember, remember you. Which side are you on? Will you stand with us or the wealthy few,” they sang.
One agitated passerby yelled in response: “You’re an absolute bunch of f--king wankers. Go back to school.”
After some more chanting, students plastered sticky notes with messages all over the Labor office’s windows.
Police stood by as the students yelled “climate action now”.
One student climbed up a wall on the side of the Labor office to tack a sticky note to the top of the window, before quickly jumping down.
Despite this, police commended the students for their behaviour, with one officer telling the event’s MC Sam “well done”.
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