This past weekend I joined around 200,000 people at the People’s Climate March in Washington DC. It was a sweltering 90º, but the energy and atmosphere couldn’t have been higher. There were people from all over the country and the world there to make a stand and fight for cleaner energy, equality, environmental protection and more. The march was strategically placed on President Trump’s 100th day in office to raise awareness of the destructive climate policies he has put in place, including nominating Scott Pruitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency and slashing this crucial organization’s funding.

The march was organized with different groups marching together. First were the Protectors of Justice groups, which included indigenous and frontline environmental justice communities. Following them were Creators of Sanctuary, Builders of Democracy, Guardians of the Future, Defenders of Truth, Keepers of Faith, Reshapers of Power and Many Struggles, One Home. But, this march was everyone coming together for the same reason: to be heard.

One amazing thing about America is that we have the right to protest and push back against our government officials and their policies. Protests and marches are quintessential to America and to Democracy as a whole. The People’s Climate March showed the collective action and voice of over 200,000 people with the message that we will not stop fighting until we are heard and until actions are taken to protect the things we care deeply about.

This march was an important step to prove we will not back down and that we will demand representatives that share our values. I believe that movements like this and displays of civic engagement are necessary to create change whether it be through voting, marching, protesting, contacting officials, contacting the media, raising awareness or registering to vote.

I believe participating and engaging in things you believe in or feel strongly about is our duty as young people in this country to come together to create a better environment for our nation and our world. Without our engagement and participation we are sending a message that we are complicit in the destruction of our environment. Voicing your opinion and making sure you are heard is crucial in moving forward with these movements and making sure change happens the way you want it to.

If you are interested you can continue to engage with the environmental movement by voting in local and national elections for environmentally friendly representatives, calling your senators, leading by example and living a sustainable life, volun