Groups in Idaho Falls rally to fight climate change

Don’t Look Away Rally to Support Climate Action was held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Broadway Bridge.

Idaho Falls Supports Youth Climate Action and Sunrise Movement South East Idaho are the groups who organized the protest.

“This is about trying to help make people aware that the time is now for action,” Jerry Sehlke said.

Organizers were happy with the turnout and believe this rally will help make people more aware.

“It was kind of a surprise,” Elissa Turpin said. “We didn’t know how it would turn out and it was like a last-minute thing too. We wanted to do it along with climate strike week that is going on globally.”

Seeing those strikes globally, inspired people to come out to the rally and for Elissa she’s out there for her family.

“The reason why it is important for me is it’s because it’s for my children and my grandchildren,” Turpin said. “I just worry what their life is going to be like when they are grown up and I want to be able to tell them I did what I could do.”

Some are tired of hope and want to see something done not just in the country but around the globe.

“We can hope for a better future but hoping will not take care of it,” Sehlke said. “We need action. We need people to get involved and to do what they can do to their part.”

Organizers say they want people to take action and to take better precautions every day at home, work, farm, or business.