Last Friday, thousands of Vermonters took to the streets to take part in the youth-led global Climate Strike. From Brattleboro to Burlington, there were dozens of protest events organized across the state, part of the largest single global day of action the world has ever seen. 

We’re incredibly proud of the youth activists who took a stand on Friday and aren’t ready to stop anytime soon. Read our statement in support of them here. VNRC proudly attended the strikes in Montpelier and Burlington, and snapped some photos of the action.

When the Vermont Legislature reconvenes in January 2020, we’ll be pushing for a Global Warming Solutions Act, which many of our neighboring states already have, and much more. Review the climate change policy priorities we’re gearing up to tackle in 2020.

Dr. Megan Malgeri, a UVM physician, spoke at the Burlington Climate Strike and published her call to action in VTDigger. Here’s what she “prescribed” to the crowd:

I want everyone here to email the governor, speaker Mitzi Johnson, and President Pro Tem Tim Ashe … to demand action on climate. But don’t stop there. Send these communications to your legislators every month for a year. If every single person here spends 10 minutes a month to advocate for the climate, we will turn the tide and reduce climate pollution in our state… Our leaders need to hear this issue echoing down the halls of the statehouse until we see change.

We’ll be filling Dr. Magleri’s prescription. Will you join us? Contact your lawmakers now, and often. Urge them to make bold climate action a priority in the coming legislative session.

Here’s how to contact your legislators.

Meanwhile, browse our photos of the strikes. Did you attend, too? What’s your favorite protest sign?