Members of Ohio Youth for Climate Justice and other community members gathered outside the Ohio Union Friday afternoon for a “Rally Against Fascism,” which ultimately marched to the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Mershon Auditorium. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor
Approximately 50 students and community members gathered outside the Ohio Union Friday afternoon for a protest held by Ohio Youth for Climate Justice, which targeted issues related to the recent 2024 presidential election.
In its “Rally Against Fascism,” Ohio Youth for Climate Justice — which holds multiple chapters across the state and aims to address the climate crisis with organized radical action, according to its website — came together around 1:12 p.m. to protest the recent re-election of former President Donald Trump, specifically addressing issues like climate change, capitalism, imperialism and white supremacy.
Chants — such as “No KKK, no fascist U.S.A., no Trump” and “one-two-three-four, occupation is no more, five-six-seven-eight, Israel is a terrorist state” — expressed the group’s perception of the growing threat of right-wing extremist ideologies in the United States.
Attendees also criticized university President Ted Carter Jr., whose formal investiture address took place around the same time at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, for what they said was a dismissal of students’ voices and a university failure to divest from Israeli companies.
At approximately 1:34 p.m., the group marched to the Wexner Center for the Arts, waving Palestinian flags, raising signs calling for divestment and chanting similar sentiments. Speakers shared feelings of hopelessness after Tuesday’s election results but urged attendees to organize with marginalized groups and uplift the voices of immigrant and queer communities.
Penelope Rupert, a second-year graduate student in comparative studies, shared a poem entitled “My Trans Joy Will Take Over the World” that details one Black transgender man’s hardships as a member of a marginalized queer community while also highlighting the pride he feels in his identity.
“I could tell you that my trans joy is more powerful than my fear,” Rupert quoted. “Or maybe I could tell you that my smile is more contagious than my transgenderism. And yes, I’m scared every day. I’m scared for my rights. I’m scared for my livelihood. I’m scared of any encounters I have in the male’s restroom. I’m scared of crossing the street, and sometimes I’m scared of the dark. But I’m also happy. I’m happy when I can put on my binder and I’m flat as I’ll be until top surgery. I’m glad when an elderly couple calls me a ‘nice young man.’ Or when I get to wear trunks in the summertime.”
At roughly 1:52 p.m., the group marched to the Mershon Auditorium, led by Catherine Adams, a fourth-year student in social and environmental geography and creative director for Ohio Youth for Climate Justice. In response to Carter’s investiture, Adams opened the floor to anybody wishing to speak in a “people’s investiture.”
Thirteen attendees shared speeches, with subjects ranging from anger toward the lack of progressive political action in the U.S. to uplifting others experiencing discrimination for their identities.
Isabella Guinigundo, a Spring 2023 Ohio State graduate and previous communications director of the university’s Ohio Youth for Climate Justice chapter, emphasized the organization’s commitment to creating change as a community.
“[Ohio Youth for Climate Justice] puts forth a real strategy, vision and program for a radically different future,” Guinigundo said. “I think that we offer real, tangible avenues for students to get involved and make a change here on campus.”
Adams agreed and said coming together to ease feelings of hopelessness following the 2024 presidential election has brought comfort to many organization members and Ohio State students.
“I think it was important that we were able to rally together as a community, and people were able to see ‘I’m not alone in this,” Adams said. “These are the people I’m fighting with, and these are the people I’m fighting for.”
The event concluded with closing remarks and a call to action from Guinigundo at approximately 3 p.m.
“We can take leadership that enables people to turn the resources they have into the power they need to make the change they want,” Guinigundo said. “So, Ohio Youth for Climate Justice? That’s what organizing is. Organizing is leadership that enables people to turn the resources that they have into the power that they need to make the change that they want. Are you ready to do that?”
