LOS ANGELES – Hundreds of people turned out for a climate change rally and march alongside activist Greta Thunberg in Grand Park on Friday, November 1.
Among them was Studio City resident George Shea. He came to the march with many of his friends who are all senior citizens.
“I’m happy there are a whole lot of young people here,” says Shea.
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Even at 79 years-old, he remembers a time that many attendees only read about in textbooks.
“I was born into a Republican family, born June 12 1940 as France was falling,” said Shea.
Shea says this Climate Change rally reminds him of the end of World War II.
“Today reminds me of the day the war ended, kids were going around banging pots and pans,” said Shea.
He says he hopes to witness the end of another war.
“I would love to be able to celebrate the beginning of the end of climate change,” Shea said.
As he marches through the streets, beside him is Chris Horton. A father from Highland Park that brought his 9-week-old baby, Sierra to the march.
“The beauty of marches like this is that you see old people, teenagers, and 9-week-old babies, and it shows the world that we’re all in this together,” says Horton.
That was one of the messages the headliner and activist Greta Thunberg made, the importance of working together for the future of the planet.
“We need to fight for that tomorrow and we need to protect it as if our lives depended on it, because it does,” said Thunberg.
Especially for Californians whose lives and properties have been threatened over the last few weeks due to raging wildfires.
“Today in California we can see the wildfires happening just around the corner, wildfires that are being intensified by the climate crisis,” said Thunberg.
A climate crisis Shea and other seniors are fighting against, with the leadership of younger generations.
“It’s nice to know that when I get too feeble to do this anymore, these kids are going to be there” says Shea.
Kids that hope to someday celebrate the end to what many of them see as their generation’s war.