Greta Thunberg to join Iowa City climate protest, started by a middle school student

Aimee Breaux and Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa City Press-Citizen

IOWA CITY, Iowa –Greta Thunberg will come to Iowa on Friday to strike with student climate protesters, the global activist announced Wednesday on Twitter.

It was Thunberg who inspired an Iowa City middle school student to start the local climate strikes in the spring of 2016.

"Greta coming to Iowa City means that people have paid attention to our climate strikes and we have been heard," wrote Massimo Biggers in an email during class. "In the spring, especially, and even now, we often feel like our political and educational leaders are not stepping up and acting with the urgency required by our climate emergency.

"We are honored and inspired and emboldened by Greta’s campaign, and we hope her visit brings together our town and the university to join together for a real climate plan, end coal at the power plant, and put Iowa City in the forefront for climate emergency action in the nation."

She isn't the only one: You know Greta Thunberg. Meet 15 other young climate activists taking on world leaders

Online haters: Greta Thunberg targeted with conspiracy theories and fake photos

Greta Thunberg speaks at a rally on Friday Sept. 20, 2019 in New York. (AP Photo/Bennett Raglin)
Greta Thunberg speaks at a rally on Friday Sept. 20, 2019 in New York. (AP Photo/Bennett Raglin)

In the early stages, support for the local Iowa City movement waxed and waned. Some days, it was just Biggers, a student at South East Junior High, posted up at the Iowa City Community School District offices on Fridays. Other days, the weekly protest was aided by local icons like football-star-turned-solar panel-entrepreneur Tim Dwight. Over the months, the Climate Strikers held protests in Iowa City Hall and on the University of Iowa's campus.

In September, hundreds of local students turned out for the Global Climate Strike. Joined by community members and groups such as the 100 Grannies, the Sunrise Movement, the Sierra Club and Young Democratic Socialists of America, they began their march at City Hall.

Massimo Paciotto-Biggers, 13, sits for a photo during a weekly walkout demanding solar panels on school buildings, Friday, April 5, 2019, outside the Iowa City Community School District offices along North Dodge Street in Iowa City, Iowa. Paciotto-Biggers sat by himself that afternoon.
Massimo Paciotto-Biggers, 13, sits for a photo during a weekly walkout demanding solar panels on school buildings, Friday, April 5, 2019, outside the Iowa City Community School District offices along North Dodge Street in Iowa City, Iowa. Paciotto-Biggers sat by himself that afternoon.

Just last week, climate activists set up at the University of Iowa Coal Plant and addressed an open letter to university President Bruce Harreld, arguing that the UI's sustainability targets are obsolete.

Thunberg is coming to Iowa City after addressing the U.N.'s Climate Action Summit in New York City. The 16-year-old Swede used the platform to condemn world leaders.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Greta Thunberg joins Iowa City middle school student's climate protest