Dismissing Climate Strikers Is 'Dangerous': UCSC Professor

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — As youth-inspired climate strikes began around the world Friday, a UC Santa Cruz professor penned an op/ed that discusses how adults are unfairly dismissing the demonstrations — and the kids.

Read about the strikes planned in Santa Cruz County.

"As the strike approached, many repeated common myths about young activists: that they just want to skip school, don’t really understand the issues, hold radical views or are being controlled by their parents," according to the piece by UCSC associate professor Jessica Taft, which appeared Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Taft argues the young climate strikers are not protesting to have fun, play hooky or rebel. Instead, the professor said these kids know what's at stake and "have no confidence in their elders' ability to deal with it."

"Too many politicians, pundits and parents will focus on the climate strikers' age instead of their platforms, proposals and demands. That is disrespectful to them and dangerous for the planet," Taft wrote. "Youth activists want adults' support, but not in the form of platitudes and insipid praise. They want adults to listen to them and join them in pursuit of political action and climate justice."

Read the full piece.