(photos copywrite Priya Migneault)By: Priya Migneault
On October 18th, 2019 an estimated 10,000 people marched through Edmonton’s streets in solidarity with Greta Thunberg and her movement Fridays For Futures. Indigenous and POC led the march with Thunberg near the middle. The stikers walked from Beaver Hill House Park to the Alberta Legislative Building. Those striking arrived via bus, foot, and car, with a group of around 80 busing up from Calgary early in the morning. Those in attendance stood united behind Thunberg and indigenous leaders pushing for climate action in Alberta. The message a clear and direct one ‘Urging political leaders to take action to combat the climate crisis.’ Greta Thunberg announced she’d be traveling to Alberta last week online. There was a large array of reactions from Albertan’s. Ranging from massive amounts of support and encouragement in her decision to those saying she and her message aren’t welcome here in Alberta. A counter protest (The United We Roll group) came up from Red Deer to the climate strike on Friday to show their support for Alberta’s oil and gas industries. Their spokesperson Glen Carritt was quoted by CBC saying, “We're not there to be bullies. We're just there to show our support for oil and gas… This is Alberta and we're hurting. We've lost hundreds of thousands of jobs in Alberta and we've lost hundreds across Canada." Many of those with the Fridays For Futures movement agreed they were hardly visible or heard during the rally. When the strikers arrived at the Legislative Building multiple indigenous youth and youth of colour took to the stage starting off the speeches. “We can build a better world from the ashes of this one by prioritizing the communities that are on the frontlines of this crisis,” Butal Gulamhusein says to the crowd, “The indigenous communities, communities of colour, (and) disabled communities because those are the people that are experiencing the devastating impacts of this crisis first.” Around 1:30pm local time Thunberg took to the stage to address the crowd. “We cannot allow this (climate) crisis to continue to be a partisan political issue,” Thunberg says, “and if you think we should be in school instead, then we suggest you take our place in the streets.” Many youth who heard Thunberg’s speech left the crowd feeling inspired and empowered to continue their fight for climate action in Alberta. The Fridays For Futures movement was started by Thunberg in August 2018 in Sweden. Since then the movement has taken the world by storm with thousands striking every Friday outside their local parliament buildings to demand climate action. Thunberg arrived in North America in September via a solar powered sailboat and has since then been touring both Canada and the US in her electric car.
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December 2022
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