Thousands skip school again to go to Belgium climate protest

Students and others hold up placards with climate messages during a demonstration against climate change in Brussels, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. Thousands of students as part of the Youth for Climate movement took time off school Thursday to call for stronger action against climate change. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Students and others hold up placards with climate messages during a demonstration against climate change in Brussels, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. Thousands of students as part of the Youth for Climate movement took time off school Thursday to call for stronger action against climate change. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

BRUSSELS (AP) — More than 10,000 students skipped school again in Belgium to join a march demanding better protections of the globe’s fragile climate.

Despite the rain and cold, the colorful protest march in Brussels was bigger than the initial one last week.

Banners reading “School strike 4 Climate” and “Skipping school? No. We fight for our future,” highlighted the march, which was free of incidents.

Some schools show understanding for the no-shows.

Patrick Lancksweerdt, a director of a local school, told De Standaard newspaper that “education has to turn youngsters into mature citizens. By their actions, they proved that they are.”

The students hope to turn the rallies into weekly events.