Between 200 and 300 people participated in the Youth Climate Strike at the Statehouse, on Friday. Among them were dozens of students holding hand-made signs, taking the sunny morning to skip school and demand change.

The students, voicing their concerns through a microphone, energized the supportive crowd by calling on support for the Green New Deal and the need to hold corporations and officials accountable.

Setting the tone, the rally began with Herron High School student Dan Piper leading a cheer.

"U-G-L-Y, you corporate scum you cheat and lie. You ugly, yeah yeah, you ugly," he shouted to the audience.

Soon, the day gave way to speeches — both scripted and unscripted — and music breaks where participants stood in the shade to speak with other community members.

Students came from local colleges and schools. More students from neighboring high schools joined them later in the day.

A national movement

Similar studentprotests are occurring in other cities and in over 150 countries. The demonstrations come ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit. Many of the protesting teens take their inspiration from 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has gained national attention in the U.S. for striking school since last year.

Speakers spoke of the importance of nature to them — camping with family or walking their dogs outside — as well as their experiences with natural disasters and the environment.

Keloe Sefo, a student from Carmel High School, said her family is from Samoa, where the effects of climate change can be devastating for the local agriculture and the shoreline.

"It's a small island. They depend on themselves," she said.

Daniel Tanner, a 15-year-old sophomore at Carmel High School and one of the organizers of the local strike, spoke of how climate change is often felt most intimately by communities of colors and indigenous people.

Tanner also cited scientific findings in his speech: Indiana has warmed by 1.3 degrees since 1985. Sea levels are projected to raise one to four feet by 2100. Hurricanes wreak more damage than before.

"I don't mean to throw a bunch of facts at you," he said, "but it is important that we educate ourselves so we can educate others."

There was no visible counter-protest.

Some schools are supportive

The protest marks the second time this year Indianapolis youth have intentionally missed school to demonstrate for the issues surrounding climate change. Earlier in March, over 200 students skipped school to protest at the Statehouse.

"What is the meaning of education, if we don't have a sustainable earth to live on?" Sefo said in her speech.

Maggie Hayward, a student from Park Tudor School, said her school is among those that have been accommodating in allowing students to miss school. Hayward said teachers at Park Tudor have even offered to move tests or assignments.

"I can come here today and not have to worry about getting detention tomorrow," she said.

Some school districts have frowned upon the organized student strikes, while others have been supportive. In New York City, for example, all public school students can miss school unpunished as long as they receive parental permission.

If nothing else, students say skipping school draws attention to the cause.

"I don't think people listen to us," Hayward said. "I think it's heartbreaking that we have to skip school to get people to listen to us."

Connie Thompson, a student at Ivy Tech Community College and a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, put the spotlight on capitalism as a system that had prioritized profits over the people affected by climate change.

"if our systems can't handle today, it certainly won't handle the unimaginable that is to come," she said, mentioning existing issues in healthcare access, housing and immigration.

The strike was sponsored by the climate change group350 Indiana-Indianapolis, though organization volunteer Robin Mohr said the students have been doing nearly all the organizing.

"The kids are running the show," she said. "We're just here to support them."

Contact reporter Amanda Zhou at azhou@gannett.com or 317-444-6378. You can follow her on Twitter @AmondoZhou.