by Carlee Malone ’20

Modern protest movements involve today’s youth like never before. From March For Our Lives, a movement spearheaded by student survivors of gun violence, and Fridays for Future, a protest movement started by teen activist Greta Thunberg, younger generations have been taking an active role in making their voice heard. Though the names Greta Thunberg and Emma Gonzales are the most recognized in the youth activist sphere, here in Montgomery County, Blair High School junior Madeline Graham and Blake High School junior Ella Jacobs show similar dedication to activism.

Graham and Jacobs have been consistent participators in the movement to combat climate change, as weekly protestors, lobbyists, and online activists. They began their participation in this movement to act on the frustration they felt that such an important issue wasn’t being adequately addressed. To them, the planet represents more than just a place where humans can carry out their lives.

“I really like to be outside,” Graham said. “I really like to garden, I really like to climb trees, I really like to run, ride my bike, and it makes me really sad to think that we are losing the natural beauty of the outside.” Even more critical, she explained, is the impact seen globally. “People are dying. There are floods in Jakarta, fires in Australia . . . People aren’t supposed to be dying on the scale that they are. It’s immoral that we’re allowing people to die of preventable disasters.”

The two friends decided that enough was enough. Graham was first to join the protest groups, connecting with Kallan Benson, who was the first striker in the United States for Fridays for Future and is its current U.S. coordinator. After linking with leaders of the movement, Graham began to exercise considerable leadership, playing a large role in planning many events for the D.C. Climate Strike Coalition, a collection of environmental activist organizations including Fridays for Future and Sunrise Movement.

One of the largest projects initiated by these groups was the strike in D.C. on September 20, 2019, with thousands of protestors from around the area participating. This project attracted people like Jacobs, who after observing previous protests, joined the planning process and committed to playing an active role. Though a strike may look like an event that can be quickly organized, Graham and Jacobs both spent months with the rest of the team planning, promoting, and handling logistics.

For Graham, most action centers around fundamental ways to broadcast her voice: physical strikes and lobbying. “Every Friday during school I silent strike, which is where. . . you don’t talk all day, and most of us wear masks. And then after school every Friday I take the Metro into D.C. and I physically strike,” Graham said. “I’m also a hub coordinator at Sunrise Movement, and in that role, we plan lobby visits, disruptions on Capitol Hill. . . lobby visits happen more than the deep strikes for me.”

Alternatively, Jacobs has a twist on her approach to protesting, focusing on ways she can contribute to the cause through art. “I’ve had opportunities to speak on panels and record some of the songs I’ve written about climate action with local radio stations,” Jacobs said. She also described how at many strikes, she’ll perform an original song about climate action or lead group chants.

Despite the appearance that such heavy involvement is unattainable or requires an unimaginable amount of work, they both stress the accessibility and ease that comes with their involvement in the organizations. Though they do contribute a lot of time to the cause, becoming involved at that scale is as easy as messaging the account @fridaysforfuture.dc on Instagram, or taking advantage of our proximity to D.C. and visiting local Congressmembers.

“Fridays for Future is an organization of incredible, motivated, and kind-hearted people that truly care about our planet and all living beings on it,” Jacobs said. “It is all of our responsibilities to protect our home and leave a better planet for the future. We hope you’ll join us in that fight.”