Climate change protests took over big cities across the country on Friday, with hundreds of thousands skipping school in Boston, Washington DC, Omaha, Indianapolis and Greenborough to join millions around the globe in the lead-up to teenage activist Greta Thunberg’s appearance in New York for a summit at the UN.
In New York itself, the city’s Department of Education said all its 1.1 million schoolchildren were free to skip class to participate in the strike if they had parental consent – without any fear of punishment as Thunberg, who has been nominated for a Nobel prize for her climate activism, spearheaded a rally at the United Nations headquarters.
It appears that many took heed of the relaxed school attendance laws, as the streets of Manhattan overflowed with thousands of young protesters on Friday afternoon.
Incredible aerial footage showed roads from Foley Square completely shut down, as police blocked off an exit from the Brooklyn Bridge as the crowds swelled.
Young people held up signs with important messages such as ‘don’t burn my future’ and ‘we are missing lessons to teach you one’, in what was expected to be the biggest protest ever against the threat posed to the planet by climate change.
Several protesters brandished placards that took aim at the current Republican administration, with one seen sporting a sign with an image of President Trump’s head accompanied by the words ‘Fossil Fool’.
Teenage activist Greta Thunberg was one of thousands of young people seen taking to the streets of New York as part of a worldwide rally calling for action on climate change
‘We are missing lessons to teach you one’: A student held up a powerful placard in New York on Friday as public school students were exempt from classes in order to hit the streets for a protest
The sheer scale of New York’s climate rally could be seen from the air, as demonstrators flooded roads in Manhattan’s bustling downtown
Incredible aerial footage showed roads from Foley Square completely shut down, as police blocked off an exit from the Brooklyn Bridge as the crowds swelled
Several protesters brandished placards that took aim at the current Republican administration, with one seen sporting a sign with an image of President Trump’s head accompanied by the words ‘Fossil Fool’
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
Activists gather in John Marshall Park for the Global Climate Strike protests on September 20, 2019 in Washington
Young people demonstrate with signs during a youth climate strike week action outside City Hall in Omaha, Nebraska
Haley Williams, left, and Amiya Cox hold a sign together and chant while participating in at the Experiential School of Greensboro in Greensboro, N.C
Boston City Hall Plaza in Boston was blocked by huge crowds that wanted to see human change not climate change
People gather and march during the Global Climate Strike march in Washington, DC
A young girl wears a banner that reads ‘We Deserve A Future’ while participating in the Global Climate Strike rally at Boston City Hall Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts
Mothers and their children with Moms Clean Air Force walk to meet up with other protesters for the Global Climate Strike protests on September 20, 2019 in Washington, DC
The protests are part of a snowballing movement sparked by school strikes outside the Swedish parliament.
The summit in New York convened by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres to urge countries to up their climate efforts.
In New York young men were seen holding up a sign, quoting Bill Nye. It read: ‘The planet’s f**king on fire.’
A sign mocked politicians by referencing the Swedish home store: ‘I’ve seen better cabinets at IKEA’.
More humor appeared in a sign that seemed to be a message for President Donald Trump. A child said: ‘You can’t comb over climate change.’
Taeko Carroll listens to speakers during a youth climate strike week action in Omaha
School children pose for a photo on a statue in front of City Hall in Omaha, Neb., during a youth demonstration against climate change
A young demonstrator carries a big sign during a youth climate strike week action in Omaha
Young people demonstrate with signs during a youth climate strike week action outside City Hall in Omaha
Emily Hill and her daughter Josephine Hill, 6, of Bellevue, Neb.,listen to speakers during a youth climate strike week action in Omaha
A student holds a sign while participating in a “Global Climate Strike” at the Experiential School of Greensboro in Greensboro, N.C. Across the globe hundreds of thousands of young people took the streets Friday to demand that leaders tackle climate change in the run-up to a U.N. summit.
Tens of thousands of protesters joined rallies on Friday as a day of worldwide demonstrations calling for action against climate change began ahead of a U.N. summit in New York
Emily Hill and her daughter Josephine Hill, 6, of Bellevue, Nebraska, listened intently to speakers during a youth climate strike week action in Omaha.
Outside the Experiential School of Greensboro in Greensboro, North Carolina, hundreds of thousands of young people took the streets to demand that leaders tackle climate change in the run-up to a UN summit.
In Washington, DC the crowd got creative with a pictured of ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods labelled a ‘climate villain’.
People gather and march during the Global Climate Strike march in Washington, DC on September 20, 2019. – Crowds of children skipped school to join a global strike against climate change
People gather and march during the Global Climate Strike march in Washington, DC on September 20, 2019, heeding the rallying cry of teen activist Greta Thunberg and demanding adults act to stop environmental disaster
People gather and march during the Global Climate Strike march in Washington, DC on September 20
‘Open your eyes’: In Washington, DC a woman pushed her child, who also held a placard, as crowds surrounded them
The large crowd is seen from across the water in Washington, DC on Friday
‘Save the humans’: In Washington, DC a sign showed a polar bear feeling bad for the future of the human race
People gather and march during the Global Climate Strike march in Washington, DC, showing a range of colorful signs
In Washington, DC the crowd got creative with a pictured of ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods labelled a ‘climate villain’
In Washington, DC, the crowd of young people urged spectators to ‘act now’ and one person asked: ‘My world’s on fire, how ’bout yours’?
Signs are seen blocking the view of the Capitol building in Washington, DC on Friday
‘There is no planet B’: In Washington, DC more signs read ‘no more denial’ and ‘fire is catching’
In Washington DC a placard read, ‘Save the humans’ and showed a polar bear feeling bad for the future of the human race.
Others had, ‘There is no planet B’, ‘no more denial’ and ‘fire is catching’ written on them.
Thunberg noted the ‘huge crowd’ in Sydney in a tweet, which she said would set the standard as the strikes moved across Asia, Europe and Africa.
Protests are planned in some 150 countries on Friday. The aim is for students and others from around the world to speak in one voice about the impending effects of climate change on the planet.
Much steeper measures are needed across the globe to prevent temperature rises of more than 1.5C (2.7F) or 2C (3.6F) to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
New York: It was expected to be the biggest protest ever against the threat posed to the planet by climate change
NYC: A woman joins students as they walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
Students hold up signs during the Global Climate Strike march at Foley Square in New York on September 20, 2019
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
Students walk out of school to take part in a march to demand action on the global climate crisis on September 20, 2019 in New York City
‘The planet’s f**king on fire’: In New York young men were seen holding up this direct sign, quoting Bill Nye
‘I’ve seen better cabinets at IKEA’: In New York, a sign mocked politicians by referencing the Swedish home store
New York: Signs included ‘I missed bio for this,’ human change not climate change’ and ‘protect our home’
Mother nature: A protester in New York used face paint to write ‘protect our mom’ and illustrated planet Earth
Massage for Trump? A child held a sign in New York saying: ‘You can’t comb over climate change’
In Boston, Massachusetts, the protesters demanded action on climate issues by encouraging ‘people power’ with their messages.
Clever attendees showed their hands with words ‘Our Future In Your Hand’ at Boston City Hall Plaza.
‘Stop trying to make COAL happen’ a sign with Mean Girls character Regina and Trump read.
Protesters show their hands with words ‘Our Future In Your Hand’ take part in a demonstration as part of the Global Climate Strike rally at Boston City Hall Plaza in Boston
Boston, Massachusetts: Millions of people around the world are taking part in protests demanding action on climate issues
Boston City Hall Plaza in Boston was a colorful sight as people used artwork to say ‘time is running out’
Children joined in the action at Boston City Hall Plaza in Boston on Friday while adults marched around them
There were many ‘architects for change’ but at Boston City Hall Plaza signs got very creative too
‘Stop trying to make COAL happen’ a sign with Mean Girls character Regina read at Boston City Hall Plaza in Boston
Robin Mohr took a photo during a climate change protest at the Statehouse in Indianapolis while holding a skeleton with the sign ‘fossil fuels’.
Students and guests gathered on the steps of the Statehouse during a climate change protest.
Michael Bean held a sign saying ‘stop climate crime’.
‘Protect our future’: Protesters hold signs during a climate change protest at the Statehouse, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Indianapolis
Students and guests gather on the steps of the Statehouse during a climate change protest, Friday, in Indianapolis
Students and guests gather on the steps of the Statehouse during a climate change protest, Friday, in Indianapolis
In Indianapolis, one person pointed out ‘it’s getting hot’ and another’s sign said: ‘I’m a grandma so I want the earth to be safe’
Students and guests gather on the steps of the Statehouse during a climate change protest, Friday, in Indianapolis
One world, one love: Melissa Bruhn holds a sign during a climate change protest at the Statehouse, Friday, in Indianapolis
Robin Mohr takes a photo during a climate change protest at the Statehouse in Indianapolis while holding a skeleton with the sign ‘fossil fuels’
Michael Bean holds a sign saying ‘stop climate crime’ during a climate change protest at the Statehouse in Indianapolis