“Our lives, our economy and our future depend on it.”
Story and photos by Jonah Hinebaugh
Grace Leah stood in the middle of an intersection next to an elderly man as traveling cars dodged them.
It was the USF St. Petersburg student’s first protest.
“It’s just crazy to see what really happens when a group of people care about something so strongly,” said Leah, a junior health sciences major. “I almost started crying because I was so overwhelmed emotionally. It’s so amazing and beautiful to see a group of people fighting for change.”
Leah was among the hundreds of students, children and other St. Petersburg residents who filled the streets of downtown on Sept. 20 to demand climate change action.
Before the march, activists gathered in the shadow of City Hall, where organizers and community leaders took to the podium to remind everyone why they were there.
“We are coming together to put pressure on politicians and policymakers to pay attention to sound science and act on climate issues,” said Jadzia Duarte, the president of USF St. Petersburg’s Student Government, during the press conference. “Climate scientists have been making the calls for years. It’s about time that we pick up.”
Mayor Rick Kriseman made an appearance and delivered a short speech before wishing everyone a great march.
“There is no more climate change debate,” Kriseman said. “The science has long been settled. Reasonable people know this. And while the climate debate may be over, the climate emergency is well underway. And make no mistake, this is an emergency.”
The strike was held in conjunction with hundreds of others across the globe in anticipation of the United Nations Climate Summit. Demands made by organizers include sustainable urban agriculture, renewable energy and protection and restoration of biodiversity.
The mass action was sparked by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, who’s gained global attention for her activism.
“(The youth) don’t have the luxury of riding this one out,” said Tim Martin, who helped organize the event. “If you’re a young person here today, your generation will have to live the longest of us all with the effects of global climate change. So the message to you is to keep pushing. For those of us who are not so young, keep demanding politicians take action.
“Our lives, our economy and our future depend on it.”
Protesters marched through downtown to Williams Park as onlookers took breaks from their lunches or midday cigars to watch.
They spilled onto the streets, clogging traffic at the intersection of Third Street North and First Avenue North.
The result was a mix of close calls and honks of affirmation.
One such close call came when an elderly woman in a red SUV became seemingly annoyed with the protestors and lurched her car forward multiple times as they stood just inches away. Phone cameras were pressed on her window and fists pounded her hood before a gap finally opened and she could squeeze through.
One participant said protests are meant to be a disruption, otherwise it’s just a sideshow.
Whether it was bold or foolish of the protestors to march in the street, it wasn’t long before St. Petersburg Police came to close off the surrounding intersections.
“This is a monumental day,” Duarte said to the protesters. “When people look back on this day, hopefully they see this as a tipping point that started the environmental revolution.”
“Whether you have a personal stance, a general care for the environment, or a fear for the future, it’s vital that every single one of you are here today.”
Alex Martin, 27, was one of the hundreds of protesters who marched to demand action against climate change. 
Student Government President Jadzia Duarte danced in the streets during the protest. Duarte also spoke during the press conference alongside Mayor Rick Kriseman. 
“The damage is not just monetary,” Mayor Rick Kriseman said. “There is a human toll. People are dying. We’re doing what we can here in St. Pete, we have our first ever sustainability roadmap.” 
Tension rose as a red SUV inched closer to the protesters on the street. In response, they pounded their fists on the hood and got video of the woman driving the SUV. 
Roxy, a spaniel-shepherd mix, was one of the attendees of the march and wore a sign that read “The dinosaurs thought they had time, too.” 
Two St. Petersburg police officers watch as the crowd fills the intersection of Third Street N and First Avenue N. 
With little room on the sidewalk of the 200 block on Central Avenue, activists spilled onto the street and continued to Williams Park. 
More than 20 businesses and organizations participated in the climate strike including the Suncoast Sierra Club, Pinellas Democratic Socialists of America and Black Crow Coffee Co.
