Former MEP and Mayor of Sheffield Magid Magid has heaped praise on the Fridays for Future activists, praising school climate strikers for making a stand.
Speaking at an event organised by Edinburgh Greens at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith, the politician compared what he was doing at the same age to those fighting for a better future.
He said they gave him “hope”.
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He added: “A lot of my hope comes from young people. What’s the alternative? If we haven’t got hope, what have we got?”
He was speaking in conversation with @katenevens in front of an audience of more than 100 people.
Well done to @EdinburghGreens and @katenevens for organising a great event with @MagicMagid this evening. Love hearing about how Greens can disrupt the status quo. pic.twitter.com/TBhcWEImd7
— Lorna Slater (@lornaslater) February 20, 2020
He discussed his background, Green policies, the arms trade and fairness, plus the decision to leave Europe and its consequences, saying: “Not everyone who voted for Brexit is racist … but everyone who is racist voted for Brexit.”
And – discussed the importance of arts and culture on society – he also revealed he is completing a book on the Art of Disruption, which he expects to be published this Summer.
Had a fab evening yesterday hosting the @EdinburghGreens event where we welcomed @MagicMagid to talk to us about being a celeb politician (who knew there was a way to be cool AND do politics) and serious subjects too like the arms industry, immigration policy and electoral reform pic.twitter.com/YpPR6spSgb
— Claire Miller (she/her) (@CllrCMiller) February 21, 2020
The Somali-British political activist hit the headlines previous when as Lord Mayor he said he would ban US President Donald Trump from the city of Sheffield, posed in t-shirts with slogans atop his official desk and took on racists at home and abroad.
READ MORE: To climate strikers with love .. in tribute to Valentine’s Day protestors
