Moscow climate strike draws some 200 protesting status quo

MOSCOW, Idaho – About 200 students, professors, City Council members and other community members rallied at Moscow’s East City Park Friday afternoon, joining millions of others around the world who participated in coordinated climate protests in large cities and small towns.

“You may not believe what you are doing is valuable, important or even worthy of your time, but you’re wrong. It does not matter how big or small what you do is, but it matters that you do something,” said speaker Nicole Xiao, a sophomore at Moscow High School.

The protest was organized by two Moscow High School students, junior Illan Carter and senior Jana Veleva, along with Logan Heflin, a junior plant science major at the University of Idaho.

“If nobody else is going to do something, we might as well,” Carter said.

The students gathered at the high school at 11:40 a.m. and walked together to the city park, where they were met by a large crowd. Many of the students carried signs, including a large banner in the front that read “Save the Earth, Save our Future.”

Other sign messages included “The Earth Is Not Dying. It’s Being Killed,” “We are Skipping Our Lessons to Teach You One” and “There is No Planet B.”

“Just the fact that students around the world are walking out is just so inspiring. I just want to be a part of it,” said UI student Kendra Wilhite. “I feel like there is power in numbers. It lets government officials and others know this is an issue we care about.”

Almost every speaker urged students and adults to lobby Congress by sending letters and emails and leaving voicemails.

“Do your part today, because if not now, when? If not you, then who? What will you do to change the world?” Heflin asked to huge cheers from the crowd.