TV2: Local students participate in worldwide climate change protest from KentWired.com on Vimeo.

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO– About 30 students at Cuyahoga Falls High School took part in a global initiative to protest climate change. 

Cuyahoga Falls High School is one of thousands of schools where students chose to participate in a sit-in on school grounds. This global campaign started with Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old activist who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her work in organizing a worldwide intitiative.

Students took part in #FridaysForFuture, in efforts to raise the attention of policy leaders to take action for climate change. 

“We think that climate change is very important because it’s going to completely determine what our future looks like,” said CFHS junior Meredith Gallagher.

Meredith and other students are working with State of Ohio Youth Activists which was formed around walkouts in schools in 2018 protesting gun reform.

“We recognize this is an issue right here and now because we’re already seeing effects of it,” Gallagher said, “so we think it’s really important that we force authorities and government officials to confront the issue now.”

CFHS senior Alyssa Freda said, “Everyone tells you when you’re young you’re a kid and you don’t know what you’re talking about but that’s not true. We’ve been educating ourselves all week, all day and we’re going to continue to educate ourselves for the rest of our lives.

Freda said the recent climate change report was what influenced students of Cuyahoga Falls High School to pay closer attention to climate change and participate in this sit-in.

“We’ve been working to educate people who ask, who drive by,” Freda said, “and the whole point is that we get their attention and make them think about it.”

Students also wore red arm bands as a silent way to protest. Freda and Gallagher agreed this is just the beginning in shedding light on a rising political concern.

“Everyone hear recognizes that climate change is an issue that goes a lot beyond one day at school and a lot beyond even just our lives.” Gallagher said. “We recognize that if we don’t protest this now, regardless of if we don’t go to school or not there’s going to be major consequences in the future.”

Erin Simonek is the digital content producer and TV2 reporter. Contact her at [email protected].