and several other environmental organizations drawing an estimated seven million participants across generations. Her voice undeniably stands at the front-lines of the movement, rightfully representing indigenous and immigrant people, but she’s too humble to say that about herself, crediting Greta Thunberg as her inspiration to strike .
LABAYEN: Oh, “Those kids out there are really dangerous trying to save the environment.” How long have you all been out there?. My first strike was March 15th, the first global strike. And I started weekly striking 19 weeks ago.BASTIDA: I didn’t know her, actually. We met at the first strike. I met so many amazing activists on the streets literally striking. I think that’s the coolest part.March 15thBASTIDA: No. We have 1,200, but then for September 20th, over a thousand walked out.
. I guess it’s because we have the most time to do it, that we can be vocal about it everywhere we go..” BASTIDA: I definitely think that. Being raised with this notion, this philosophy that you take care of the earth because that’s your job. That’s what you have to do. That’s the way we can feel best about what we’re doing and about ourselves and our community. I thought that was something everyone thought because I was raised that way.
When I talked to my friends about it, they would say things like, “Oh, yeah. We didn’t have school for a week. It was cool.” Or, “The power went out. That had never happened.” And, in my house, power used to go out every time it rained, which I think happens in a lot of places that are not cities. LABAYEN: When you graduate, do you know if you’re going to go to college, or is that out of your mind already?