Youth activists to hold vigil for heat-related deaths around the world

In light of summer heat that has been sizzling in Idaho, and two heat-related deaths in the state, a youth-led organization is holding a candlelight vigil.

The organization is also hoping to call attention to the heat and get elected officials to act.

Youth activists from Sunrise Movement, an organization that is focused on fighting to stop climate change and create more jobs in America, is holding the vigil at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Boise City Hall. The event aims to mourn the deaths that have been caused by the extreme summer heat across the United States and the world.

“We would love to have more people show up to this and mourn the deaths,” said Sanshray Kukutla, leader in the Boise Sunrise Movement. “We are hoping, ultimately, that we see climate action from the federal government.”

Locally, that means getting elected officials in Idaho to call on the federal government to declare heat as a major disaster, Kukutla said.

There have been two heat-related deaths in Idaho this summer, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced in late June. It’s been even hotter in July; temperatures at the Boise Airport reached triple digits each day from July 8-13, according to Bill Wojcik, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.

And it’s likely that beginning on Thursday, there will be another excessive heat watch for Boiseans.

“Unfortunately, we’re going to get back into a stretch of comparably hot days, looks like starting on Thursday,” Wojcik said.

Folks attending the vigil are welcome to bring their own candles.