From coast to coast, Greens were out in force to support the September 20 Global Climate Strike, heeding the call of youth leaders in the Fridays For Future school strikes for climate. Check out a roundup of Green-supported events from the weekend at gp.org or search for #GPStrike on Twitter to see what Greens got up to around the country!

In New York City, the Green Party of NY joined over 250,000 climate strikers in the rallies and march in lower Manhattan. “Being in that massive crowd, spotting faces I’ve known from many years of struggle for ecological justice and many, many new faces who have more recently committed themselves to the fight, was so moving” said Michael O’Neil, GPUS’ new Communications Manager who came in from Syracuse, NY for the event. “And as someone who has worked on Green Party campaigns that have called for a Green New Deal —going back to 2010— it felt amazing to see scores of groups and young people carrying that demand forward on their posters and banners.”

Greens in Madison, WI joined Extinction Rebellion and allies in taking over the state capitol building, chanting “I believe that we will win!” and marched on a dirty fossil fuel plant to demand clean, renewable energy.

Back in NYC, GPUS National Co-Chair Margaret Flowers was one of the primary organizers of the People’s Mobilization to Stop the U.S. War Machine and Save the Planet, a series of events linking the issues of war and climate catastrophe that included a rally on September 22. GPUS endorsed the mobilization and provided support for Greens to attend. “We need, in the anti-war movement, the same assertive and strong positions that the climate crisis has — and the climate crisis movement understands we are not going to solve the climate crisis if we don't stop the U.S. military machine” said Flowers. “We are anti-imperialist, we are pro-peace we are for a Green New Deal that cuts military spending significantly and uses those funds to lift up people and protect the planet.”

2016 GPUS Vice Presidential Nominee Ajamu Baraka attended the mobilization, where he was awarded the U.S. Peace and Freedom Prize for his courageous work and writing against militarism and empire. Speaking on the need for Greens to lead the way on linking these issues, Baraka said “What we have seen from both of the major political parties is they are quite happy to collude with the ruling class in perpetuating death and destruction against the entire planet. That is why it is so important for a party like the Green Party to exist.”

GPUS National Co-Chair and GPNY Co-Chair Gloria Mattera echoed that sentiment, saying “The Green Party has, for decades, been speaking out against all wars and U.S. aggression and connects with Green Parties and Left organizations around the world because we know that we need an international solution both for peace and the climate crisis.”

The GPUS National Black Caucus hosted a spirited presidential candidates forum on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie, IN with a special focus on issues of concern to the black community. Most of the active candidates were able to attend and the event was livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.

In addition to giving candidates the chance to elaborate on their platforms for racial, social and economic justice for people of color, the event also featured guest speakers Bishop Gregg L.Greer, Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. and Akua Njeru. “Our goal is to liberate our people and to give them access to information that they may not routinely have,” said GPUS National Black Caucus member Monica James, the primary organizer of the forum. “The Green Party Presidential Candidates of the 2020 campaign are all paying attention to the current issues in America and we can change the current narrative."