Recap: MAP Youth Attend D.C. Climate March
Author: Mariama McCoy, MAP Youth | Re-posted from GrowWNY.org
June 12, 2017
Climate JUSTICE and YOUTH
Youth from Buffalo's
Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) had the chance to go to D.C.
for the People’s Climate March to represent agriculture and youth for
they affect and are also affected by climate change. Although the trip
began with an overnight bus ride with very uncomfortable seating and
walking very far with suitcases, the youth were lucky to have found free
accommodations at a local church. There they played Uno and Jenga
while waiting to for the Youth Contingent to start. They attended the
People’s Climate March Youth Contingent workshops to talk about topics that connect some youth to climate change issues at Standing Rock, including a chief’s son.
At
the Youth Contingent, they participated in a skit that showed the power
of action, starting with disempowerment and then putting in place
changes that could empower youth. They learned that to fix our country’s
economy we have to address underlying issues such as racism. They
learned chants and songs for the day of the march, and obtained some
free posters to march with. They heard speeches from several different
organizations and leading people in climate social justice movement.
After the workshops there was a dance party where the youth met teens
from other organizations such as the
Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) fellowship in New York City, as well as the
Young People’s Action Coalition.
The next day, the youth took public transportation and caught a ride
on golf carts to meet the Sierra Club Niagara Group bus from Buffalo.
Before the march even started, they saw a girl faint from heatstroke.
During the march, people were selling water for $5 a bottle, but luckily
the youth had already gotten water for only $1 a bottle. The march was
a far walk in the heat, but the youth had the chance to yell chants
into a bullhorn, things such as “water is life” alongside Xiuhtezcatl
Martinez, Youth Director of
Earth Guardians.
Finally, they marched past Trump’s hotel and saw some awesome art work, including a life-size piece
“Putin’s Puppet”.
Together with thousands of people, they sat down in the street and all
patted their hearts to make a heartbeat for 100 seconds for the first
100 days of Trump being in office. Their trip ended with a trolley ride
to get lunch before boarding the Sierra Club buses and return to
Buffalo.
The next day, the youth took public transportation and caught a ride
on golf carts to meet the Sierra Club Niagara Group bus from Buffalo.
Before the march even started, they saw a girl faint from heatstroke.
During the march, people were selling water for $5 a bottle, but luckily
the youth had already gotten water for only $1 a bottle. The march was
a far walk in the heat, but the youth had the chance to yell chants
into a bullhorn, things such as “water is life” alongside Xiuhtezcatl
Martinez, Youth Director of Earth Guardians. 
