Students across the country are ditching class on Friday to protest for the Green New Deal, and one of three young girls credited with organizing the event has direct ties to congressional socialists pushing the plan.
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter, 16-year-old Isra Hirsi, allegedly co-founded the “Youth Climate Strike” alongside 13-year-old Alexandria Villasenor of New York and Haven Coleman, a 12-year-old from Denver.
Hirsi will be flying to Washington, D.C. to speak with her mother at the U.S. Capital Building, while students in dozens of other school district across the U.S. and the world will walk out of school to hold similar rallies at statehouses and city halls in their communities.
The goal, Hirsi told Grist, is to pressure lawmakers into taking action to control the changing climate, and to adopt the socialist policies outlined in the GND.
“These strikes are happening all over the world. Getting young people out, going to state capitols, going to city halls, going to the nation’s capital and talking about these things, that says something,” the teen said. “That’s what we’re trying to do: Change the conversation not only about things like the Green New Deal but so much more. Obviously, one strike isn’t going to change everything, but this isn’t the last strike.”
Hirsi told Greenpeace strike organizers were inspired by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg’s weekly climate strikes and wanted to bring the idea to the U.S. Hirsi’s been 
involved in protests “since first grade,” she said, but didn’t become a climate activist until her freshman year in high school last year. She was inspired by the Flint water crisis, and the rebuilding of a Line 3 pipeline through Minnesota, both of which have nothing to do with climate change.
“The idea to bring the movement to the United States came from Haven Coleman. I got involved because Haven DM’ed me on Instagram and told me she was organizing this and wanted me to organize my state,” she said. “I was like, ‘Hey is anyone actually helping you do this nationally?’ and she said no. So I was like, ‘cool, I’ll help you!’”
The Youth Climate Strike, like the GND, is premised on claim in a 2018 UN IPCC Report that alleges the world will be doomed to destruction in about 11 years if world leaders don’t take drastic action to curb climate change, which supposedly impacts minorities more than everyone else.
Proud mom here! 🤗I hope other Members of Congress will join me in this strike.
We need to listen to the wisdom of our kids! https://t.co/sIYW6p7S3U
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 13, 2019
“We are striking because marginalized communities across our nation – especially communities of color, disabled communities, and low-income communities – are already disproportionately impacted by climate change,” according to the group’s stated mission.
“We are striking because if the social order is disrupted by our refusal to attend school, then the system is forced to face the climate crisis and enact change. With our futures at stake, we call for radical legislative action to combat climate change and its countless detrimental effects on the American people,” the statement continues.
“We are striking for the Green New Deal, for a fair and just transition to a 100% renewable economy, and for ending the creation of additional fossil fuel infrastructure. Additionally, we believe the climate crisis should be declared a national emergency because we are running out of time.”
The Youth Climate Strike and GND call for phasing out fossil fuels in just over 10 years, “compulsory comprehensive education” on climate change, “standards and benchmarks for reducing greenhouse gases,” and a shift away from meat consumption to “more plant-based farming.”
The GND would also require the government to update every building in the country to maximize energy efficiency, eliminate gas cars and planes, transform healthcare into a government run system and eliminate private insurance, and free money and college for anyone, even those “unwilling” to work, according to a description released by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
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