EDMONTON - A crowd stretching two city blocks is moving through the streets of Edmonton to support Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg's visit to the Alberta capital.
The 16-year-old Stockholm student is to speak at a climate rally at the legislature at noon.
The crowd carried signs with slogans such as "We Demand Action on the Climate Crisis," "Unite Behind Science" and "I Speak for the Trees."
MASSIVE! Thousands joining @GretaThunberg in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) capital of the #tarsands province!
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) October 18, 2019
All over the planet people are rising to demand we #ActOnClimate. Denial doesn't help.#ClimateStrike #FridaysforFutures #cdnpoli #climate #elxn43
Via @KarynMulcahy pic.twitter.com/w2d6LUitmG
Wow. This 9-year old just killed it. CHILLS!!
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) October 18, 2019
9-year-old Noah Green of Chubby Cree singing to the massive crowd at the #climatestrike in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton).#ClimateStrike #FridaysforFutures #cdnpoli #abpoli #elxn43 #VoteClimate@GretaThunberg. Via @CityNewsYEG pic.twitter.com/UVKrYxkx3p
A group of oil and gas supporters in a convoy of trucks left Red Deer, Alta. in the morning and is planning a counter-rally during the event.
The teen has been making international headlines for criticizing world leaders who she accuses of letting down youth by doing too little to tackle climate change.
Premier Jason Kenney has said the government has no plans to meet with Thunberg.