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Middle Schoolers Skip Class For The Climate

Sarah Jesmer
Students streamed out the front doors of Clinton Rosette Middle School on Friday morning, skipping around 15 minutes of class to encourage climate action.

Some middle schoolers in DeKalb walked out of class this morning as part of a global climate strike. They wanted to encourage people to act in response to climate change. 

The voices of around 100 students echoed outside Clinton Rosette Middle School.  Students walked out with handmade signs and chanted about the climate. Many said that social media inspired action.

Ava Jontz is in 7th grade. Jontz said she’s concerned about melting ice caps and wildfires.   

"The earth probably won't change tomorrow but think about 100 years from now -- like our children and their children -- things could happen to them," Jontz said.  

The strike comes ahead of UN Climate Summits. International leaders will come together to talk about concrete plans for environmental health. A youth summit begins on Saturday and a general summit begins on Monday.