Greta Thunberg effigy hanging from bridge sparks outrage, police investigating 'aggravated threats'
The police are currently looking into an effigy of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg that was hung from a bridge in Rome. The effigy was seen wearing a poncho and it had long plaits. It also had a sign written on it in English which read, "Greta is your God." According to the Italian police, an inquiry into the 'aggravated threats' had started. Local politicians have condemned the nasty act.
The effigy was discovered on the same day as thousands of Extinction Rebellion activists joined together in protest in cities around the world seeking valid action to combat climate change. The protests took place in locations such as Berlin, Amsterdam, and Sydney. [Extinction Rebellion is a non-political movement which uses civil disobedience to seek government action on climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and social and ecological collapse].
Greta has previously supported the group and has also publicly called for the 'acts of civil disobedience' that the group has demonstrated. The mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, took to social media to share that her city was in 'solidarity' with the 16-year-old and her family.
The leader of the democratic party in Italy, Nicola Zingaretti, dubbed the act as one of 'grisly violence' and announced that the party does not have any respect for the values that are shared by those who are responsible for the effigy.
MEAWW had previously reported that a school teacher from Iowa had reportedly been "placed on leave" for writing "don't have my sniper rifle" on Facebook in response to a report about Greta Thunberg's visit to the state. The teacher, Matt Baish, who is from the Waterloo West High School left his controversial comment on October 3.
Baish's comment was soon deleted along with his profile from Facebook, many users who were left shocked by the comment took screenshots of it and shared on social media expressing their outrage. The teacher was eventually suspended.