Climate Strike in KC, Sept. 20, 2019

September 20 began an international “Climate Strike”, called in part by Extinction Rebellion (XR), which started in the UK, the US-wide Sunrise Movement, and other groups in Kansas City.

At 6:30 in the early morning, some 40 people with the Kansas City chapter of Extinction Rebellion held rally in front of the Kansas City Star demanding they “Tell the truth” about climate change.

Around noon, roughly 250 students at the University of Missouri at Kansas City marched from Theis Park to the Miller Nichols Library demanding action to limit the threats of ecological collapse from the Sixth mass extinction since the appearance of large animals just over half a billion years ago.

Shortly after 5 PM, over 500 people gathered in Mill Creek Park to listen to talks by politicians and leaders of different groups concerned about global warming.

The master of ceremonies (MC) for the 5 PM event was Khiana Harris of Sunrise KC.  In addition to introducing the speakers, she led the crowd in chants like, “What do we want?  Climate justice.  When do we want it?  Now.”

The event included presentations by the following people:

Belle Pham, a student at Park Hill High.

Tyler French, the Director of Service Employees International Union local 1

Reese Gilmore, a student at Shawnee Mission South.

Richard Mabion, with the NAACP of Kansas City Kansas and the Sierra Club

Logan Heley, the youngest member of the City Council of Overland Park, Kansas

Gavin Schaefer, student at Blue Springs South High

Maya Neal with  Kansas City Tenants

Eric Bunch, member of the City Council of Kansas City, Missouri, representing the district that includes Mill Creek Park.

Amy Ramirez with Sunrise Missouri

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