Student activists around the globe skipped school on Friday, September 20 to call for action on the issue of climate change.
In State College, a couple hundred activists of all ages participated, including many students. They gathered at the Allen Street gates and marched to the steps of Penn State's Old Main. Many of them held homemade signs with slogans like "Save the Earth," "Unite behind science," and "There is no planet B."
Penn State student Nicholas Prestayko held a sign with a Darth Vader helmet on a green background that read "Join the green side." Prestayko said he decided to come after hearing about Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
"I wanted to join because I'm pretty passionate about regulations, about fossil fuels, and I just really care about the environment," he said.
Patti Lock attended the Climate Strike with her daughter, son-in-law, and four young grandchildren.
"I think we're already running out of time to save the planet," Lock said. "And I do not want these kids to be on a parched, drying-up planet with terrible air when they're 35 and 40. We have to act now."
Climate strikes were planned for all 50 states on Friday. There were also climate events in Altoona, Huntingdon, Lewisburg, Bedford, and many more Pennsylvania towns.
