Licypriya Kangujam, an 8-year-old Indian climate activist, says her Twitter account was suspended–and restored a few hours later–after she complained about being compared to Greta Thunberg.
“Twitter shouldn’t attempt to silence the voice of young climate activist in any part of the world in future,” Licypriya told WION after her account was restored.
Kangujam was suspended after she penned a series of tweets earlier this week about how the Thunberg comparisons are problematic.
“I began my movement since July 2018 even before Greta was started,” she wrote at the time. “I sacrificed so much of my life in this tender age is not to called me ‘Greta of India.”
Dear Media,
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) January 27, 2020
Stop calling me “Greta of India”. I am not doing my activism to looks like Greta Thunberg. Yes, she is one of our Inspiration & great influencer. We have common goal but I have my own identity, story. I began my movement since July 2018 even before Greta was started. pic.twitter.com/3UEqCVWYM8
https://twitter.com/LicypriyaK/status/1221629471767199746
I even dropped out my school since February 2019 (before Grade 1 final exam) when I was just 7 years old due to my protests every week in front of the Parliament House of India. I sacrificed so much of my life in this tender age is not to called me “Greta of India”.
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) January 27, 2020
After the suspension was lifted, Kangujam said her posts weren’t abusive nor “against anyone.”
“I just used Greta name as to stop calling me ‘Greta of India’ by some media for my activities. My post had over 1.9 million views in the last 2 days with over 135,000 likes and over 29,000 shares,” she told WION.
She also doubts that her age was a factor behind her suspension.
READ MORE:
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- Greta Thunberg named ‘Time’ 2019 person of the year
- The year in Twitter suspensions
H/T WION
