to skip school for a couple of hours. We’re disrupting the status quo, so we cannot go around doing business as usual. We have to literally like dismount systems in place. So it’s not going to be comfortable. Earth day Is going to be the big one,” says Elkolaly. Many kids took the time to skip school altogether, defeating the purpose. The University of Michigan has billion-dollar investments in the fossil fuel industry. “The university divest billions of dollars into carbon and energy, and it is so bad, and we have been hounding the president of U of M for so long, and she is still to meet with us,” said Elkolaly. It is not surprising that the president will not take Elkolaly and her fellow young leaders seriously. “You have a lot of high rolls. A lot of “oh, you just have youthful optimism,” It’s quite annoy-
ing to be treated that way from middle-aged adults. Nevertheless, what can you do? You can just rise above it,” says Elkolaly. “So I show them results. The best revenge is a success. If it gets a little aggressive, I like to combat them with, “What were you doing when you were 17? Getting high?” You are criticizing me for doing outstanding work at a young age,” said Elkolaly. As long as an activist is like Elkolaly work, the POC activists will have a more significant role in the movement. The media needs to cover groups who are fighting for change, not just white-European girls. It is essential to realize the threat climate change has on all of us, and working together is the only way change can occur. C
Photography By Atticus Dewey Elkolaly addresses a crowd of protesters in the Diag at the University of Michigan. Elkolaly has refused to attend the University because of their involvement in the fossil fuel industries.
Feature |
November 2019
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