Fridays For Future (FFF) in the US, Growing Youth Climate Movement Started By Greta Thunberg

"Fridays For Future in the US: A small but determined movement," DW/Deutsche Welle, Aug. 29, 19. Climate activist Greta Thunberg has arrived in the US, where her Fridays for Future movement hasn't taken off yet. But the teens who did show up to recent protests have made their position clear: They won't back down.

Fridays for Future? Many people in the US aren't aware of the youth climate movement that was started by 16-year-old Swede Greta Thunberg in August 2018 and has inspired students in countries all across the world to come together to protest for climate action weekly. But the fact that Fridays for Future (FFF) is less well known stateside doesn't mean that young activists in the US are less passionate.



On a rainy Friday in Washington, DC, a small group of teens sit on a fountain on the western side of the Capitol with a clear view of the Washington Monument. Madeline Graham, 16, is prepping her fellow protesters for potential trouble. The Capitol Police might tell them to leave, she says to the five or so protesters around her, but they should stay right where they are. "We have a right to be here," she emphasizes. The group later grew to around 10 people — a relatively small turn-out, considering school hasn't returned from summer break in D.C. yet, but at least it meant they could stay where they are.

"If we got more than 20 people, we would need a permit, which we don't have," Graham explained. "So we would either have to split up into two smaller groups and separate, or move to the White House where you don't need a permit." It didn't come to that — heavy rain showers made sure of it. The Fridays For Future movement is also smaller in the US than it is in Europe, but then again, it has some catching up to — FFF USA was only founded in January 2019.

'Righteous anger' among teen activists: Graham firmly believes that the young movement can bring about change in the US. "Any politician who underestimates us won't underestimate us for much longer," she said. "You can't hide from righteous anger."

The focus of Friday's protest was the fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest. The teens were joined by Carolina Schaffer, who moved to the US from Brazil a year ago and was holding a poster that read "Help us stop them from burning our forests." At 29, Schaffer considers herself "just under the age limit for being allowed to come to this protest," but she fit right in. Under the gray Washington skies, she joined youth activists in a sing along of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" that Graham's friend Ella Jacobs (16) played on the ukulele...

https://www.dw.com/en/greta-thunberg-arrives-us-fridays-for-future-in-the-us-a-small-but-determined-movement-a-50146485/a-50146485