More than two hundred community members gathered outside the Kingston Courthouse for the global climate strike.
Kingston joined more than 1,200 communities around the world in the climate action demonstration on September 25.
The event itself was cut short, and plans that included a march to Confederation Park were rejected in conversation with public health just hours before the event.
The strike was organized in collaboration with Queen students and various climate activist groups such as QPAC, 350 Kingston and Just Recovery, and sought to convey the message that everyone has a place in the fight against climate change.
Jeremy Milloy, a 350 Kingston organizer, says that finding out how you can apply your skills and passions to the fight for climate justice is one of the best ways to get involved.
He added that the diversity of the crowd outside the courthouse continues to show that climate change is a top priority issue.
“I think the diversity of the crowd and the size of the crowd reflects the fact that more than 70% of the voters in the last election here on this walk voted for parties that promised climate action,” Milloy said.
“I think that shows that the community in all walks of life wants climate justice and we expect climate justice in the next parliament.”
Milloy encourages people to engage in conversations about climate justice to keep it at the forefront, as echoed by organizer and MSc student Emily Cervenka.
She says she hopes a rally like Friday’s will act as a spark for action from the participants.
“The most important thing is to be engaged and talk about it. We hope this has been a spark for everyone to think about it, ”said Cervenka.
Organizers say their central demands on the government are to end fossil fuel subsidies, stop the Trans Mountain pipeline and introduce the Just Transition Act.
With the intersection of colder weather and COVID restrictions looming, organizers are aware that large gatherings like the one on Friday will no longer be possible.
Milloy says, however, that this has not and will not affect the movement.
“We have been organizing during this pandemic all the time, we have been doing the events that we can do safely, we are not going to stop, we are not going to leave.”
Reference-ygknews.ca