'If you did your job, we'd be in school': Greta Thunberg joins White House climate protest

After calling out politicians for climate inaction on "The Daily Show" this week, teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is protesting Friday outside the White House to demand the U.S. government address the affects of climate change.

The 16-year-old Swede is joined by youth activists in the protest, which marks the start of Thunberg's six-day stay in Washington, D.C.

Along with dozens of other youth protesters, Thunberg chanted, "Hey hey, ho ho, climate change has got to go" as the activists marched outside the White House.

The students held a variety of homemade signs, including "Make Earth cool again," "Save the ice caps" and "If you did your job, we would be in school."

Just before 1 p.m., Thunberg briefly spoke to a crowd that had swelled to more than 100.

“I’m so incredibly grateful for every single one of you,” she said

“Never give up. We will continue,” she said amid loud cheers. “See you next week on Sept. 20!”

Next Friday, Thunberg is organizing a worldwide climate strike that encourages students to step out of class to protest. New York City Public Schools has said it will excuse absences for students joining the protest with parental consent.

Read more about Greta: Youth climate activist sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, completes voyage

In August, Thunberg captured global attention when she set off from Plymouth, United Kingdom, on a zero-emissions boat voyage across the Atlantic. Thirteen days later on Aug. 24, she arrived in New York City and went on to hold a protest outside the United Nations headquarters.

Youth climate activists prepare to march to the White House on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg also attended the protest.
Youth climate activists prepare to march to the White House on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg also attended the protest.

Thunberg's celebrity status has grown in recent months. On Wednesday, Thunberg joined Trevor Noah on his Comedy Central late-night show,where she said her decision to embark on a boat trip was motivated by the massive impact aviation has on carbon emissions that lead to climate change.

Citing that 200 species go extinct every day, Thunberg said the world is in the midst of a mass extinction and she reiterated that the impacts of climate change were being felt now.

Thunberg urged people to get informed on climate exchange and to push for a political movement to stop the world's destruction.

“What we should do as individuals is to use the power of democracy to make our voices heard and to make sure that the people in power actually cannot continue to ignore this," Thunberg told Noah.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Climate activist Greta Thunberg protests outside White House