NYC Students Protest As Part Of Global Climate Strike

NEW YORK, NY — Students held protests Friday across New York City as part of the worldwide climate strike movement.

Climate strike actions were led in various locations including City Hall, the United Nations Headquarters, Washington Square Park, Bronx Science and Columbus Circle, according to posts by climate activists on social media. A protest at Columbia University was attended by presidential hopeful and Washington Governor Democrat Jay Inslee, who has made climate change the top priority of his campaign.

Students began walking out of classes as early as 9:30 a.m. Friday to join protests that lasted into the afternoon. A rally at City Hall was so large that many students weren't allowed inside the gates, according to climate activists. Many of the protests were staged "die ins" where students laid on the ground and pretended to be dead.

"We, the youth of America, are striking because the science says we have just a few years to transform our energy system, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent the worst effects of climate change," the website for Youth Climate Strike, the group that organized protests in the United States, reads.

Check out scenes from New York's climate protests: