Student Voices from the Annapolis Environmental Human Rights Rally

March 2, 2022

College students with signs at the EHRA Rally in Annapolis
College students with handmade signs at the February 18 Environmental Human Rights Amendment Rally in Annapolis, MD

Our generation can make changes in the way the government is run and how our environment is treated

BY SHELBY DITTMAN AND KATE HOLLAND

Seeing people of all ages gathered around for one cause amidst the hardships of the Covid-19 pandemic was such a breath of fresh air. We were welcomed by many eager faces to join in sign making before the Environmental Human Rights Amendment Rally began. The event’s main purpose was to educate students, delegates, and members of the Sierra Club.

They offered both an in-person and online option so that everyone could access the information shared. The online portion was run by Luca who made sure everyone felt included regardless of if they were able to make it in-person or not. What impressed me the most about the in-person portion was how well it was run by a group of mostly students. It was amazing to see the adults present at the event allow the young people to share their voices and opinions. In the capital square everyone huddled around like cold penguins to try and make a stand.

Linda eloquently ran the bullhorn, and she is only 15 years old. She invited everyone to speak out if they had something to say. Many were nervous at first but as more people spoke out more young people were willing to say something. My favorite speaker was a young girl, of 18, who shared an inspiring story about her role in the fight for environmental rights. She told us how she had started her journey around 10 years old and was going to continue to fight until she couldn’t anymore.

The rally reminded me of a similar protest I went to in my sophomore year of high school. Although the rally I went to in high school was to prevent gun violence, the two shared a theme of young people taking action to make change in the government.

Our generation is the most connected of any alive right now. We are able to communicate very effectively through social media and articulate our thoughts clearly in a public setting. We have persevered through Covid-19 and were still able to accommodate people that could not make the trek out to Annapolis. It was amazing to see people from other colleges present at the rally as well. There were two girls from the University of Maryland who spoke about the tragedy of the Anacostia River. It is very close to their school and has impacts on their daily lives, which emphasizes the need for this amendment.

I think that our generation has the power to make serious changes in the way the government is run and how our environment is treated. One delegate who spoke out was 20 years old. He encouraged all of us to continue exercising our voices and run for office in the future. We were born into a world facing climate change, and we feel the need to enact change now before it is too late.

Delegate Wanika Fisher, who is a main supporter of the amendment, spoke about her position in the fight. Her inspiring words really echoed a lot louder than that megaphone did. She called out to all the young people to petition their delegates and make noise within their districts to fuel the fight for the amendment.

I personally left the rally with a mission, and the shivers, to do everything I could to pass this amendment.

Seeing the amount of young people who showed out to the event made me very hopeful for our future. So many of them felt so deeply moved by environmental issues that I think the future of the Sierra Club is in good hands.

Shelby Dittman and Kate Holland are students at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

Student participants inspired by virtual Environmental Human Rights Rally

BY JULIA MILNER

On February 18, 2022, a virtual option of the Environmental Human Rights Student Rally was held for individuals who could not attend in-person in Annapolis. The rally was advocating for the Environmental Human Rights Amendment for the state of Maryland; the amendment would establish that everyone in the state of Maryland has the right to a clean, sustainable, and healthful environment for generations to come. This event, like what it says in the title, was put on by students for students in the state of Maryland which was the most unique part of it.

Students in Maryland who could not join in-person at the Lawyers Mall were able to advocate why they deserve a world with a clean environment and express their support for such a well rounded amendment. The virtual event consisted of a list of guest speakers, words of affirmation, and a livestream of the in-person event! As a volunteer of the Sierra Club, I was so thankful I was able to attend this event virtually and have an equitable chance to participate in a rally full of students who will make a difference!

Although it was sort of hard to hear the in-person, student speakers, it was so inspiring to hear their affirmations about environmental justice. They spoke about their families, friends, and future aspirations and how they revolve around the amendment.

One of my favorite student speakers from the virtual rally was Riya Sharma. Riya is the co-president of the environmental justice club, “17 For Peace and Justice” at UMD. The group empowers students of all backgrounds within their community to take action for environmental justice and to fight for equitable legislation to be passed at the state level. “We should not have to beg for a healthful environment, it should have been handed to us.” This statement by Riya really resonated with me and is something I thought about a lot throughout the entirety of the event. All of these speakers have put in blood, sweat, and tears solely for this amendment to get passed at the state level which expresses the dire need for legislation like this to go forward. I am confident that this passion and drive within our generation will get it done.

“Your voice matters because you’re right now” said Delegate Wannika Fisher, who is one of the head sponsors for the Environmental Human Rights Amendment. During the virtual rally, all in attendance were so excited to hear her kind words of affirmation and inspiration.

She emphasized that our generation deserves a clean and healthy environment and that it is so inspiring to watch the people today fighting for this change to take place. She also mentioned that without bills like the Environmental Human Rights Amendment, all other justice groups alike would not exist since we need a clean future in order to fight for everyone else. This sentiment was the whole reason why I wanted to join the rally and be a part of this experience . Our environmental future is integral for environmental justice but civil, social, economic, and every justice in between. The work those groups are working on will carry on for years to come.

I am so thankful I was able to experience the rally from a virtual standpoint. Although it was not in-person, I still felt a part of the community and the action taking place.

I would like to thank the organizers of this event as well as The Sierra Club for opening up for everyone to make a difference. This type of avocation makes me hopeful for the future and proud to be in my generation.

Julia Milner is a junior at St.Mary’s College and a Sierra Club volunteer.

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