#270 / The Climate Strike Is Not Just For "Kids"

Jessica Taft is an associate professor of Latin American and Latino studies at UC Santa Cruz. She is the author of a recently published book, “The Kids Are in Charge.” That book discusses activism and power in Peru's Movement of Working Children. On September 20, 2019, Taft authored an Op-Ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, saying that "adults are unfairly dismissing the youth climate strike."

That Climate Strike is taking place today in the City of Santa Cruz! This afternoon, as reported by the Santa Cruz Sentinel, students are expected to "walk out from schools including Mission Hill Middle, Santa Cruz High, Harbor High, Soquel High, Branciforte Middle, Monarch Community Elementary, Pacific Collegiate, Georgiana Bruce Kirby, Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz."

Far from "dismissing" this effort, adults that I know are supporting the Climate Strike. You can read about how to do that in this article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. 

My classes at UCSC are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I don't have to miss any classes to take part. That's not true for everyone, of course, and I'm hoping that lots of students will, in fact, leave their classes behind on Friday afternoon, and participate in the public demonstrations that will take place in the local community.

You can click this link to learn how you can take part. ALL ages are welcome! I hope to see you at the corner of Front and River Streets in downtown Santa Cruz at 2:15 this afternoon. I won't have to skip my classes to show up, but I think I would have been there, anyway. I don't think this Climate Strike is just for young people. 

In fact, to refer to a familiar musical lyric, and to extend an official invitation, think about what John Lennon said:

Join Us

Image Credit:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Open-Forum-How-adults-are-unfairly-dismissing-14451133.php?psid=ouQMt