Youth Demand Environmental Action

Youth Climate Strike LA, a student environmental advocacy group, led a protest in downtown to bring awareness to climate change.

Fia Layne (middle) striking on 1st Steet at the Youth Climate Strike after ditching school in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Sim Bilal (left) leading a large crowd of people down Temple Street during the Youth Climate Strike. Sim is the main organizor and director for the Youth Climate Strike in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Signs being held by strikers from the Youth Climate Strike on 1st Street in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept 23, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Laurel Tamayo, 23, watching speakers read off a list of climate change demands during the Youth Climate Strike at the Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Strikers holding a sign that reads "no fossil fuel [money] in city hall" on Los Angeles Street after marching from Los Angeles City Hall during the Youth Climate Strike in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2022.

The backpack of a participant at the Youth Climate Strike at the Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Merav Price reading off a list of climate change demands during the Youth Climate Strike at the Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 24, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Kian Gholibeik, 17, reading off a list of climate change demands during the Youth Climate Strike at the Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 24, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Miles Griffin, 17, holding up a sign that says, "our home is on fire act like it" and striking down 1st Street during the Youth Climate Strike in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Sim Bilal leading the Youth Climate Strike down Los Angeles Street marching from Los Angeles City Hall. Sim is the main organizor and director for the Youth Climate Strike in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Odinn Thordarson, 17, at the Youth Climate Strike at the Los Angeles City Hall with a sign that says "ban plastic." Odinn is a senior at Sequoyah High School and came as part of the Social Invitation Program (SIT) through the school. Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Sarah Chalek holding a sign which reads, "People Not Profit," with her dog, Little Prince, at the Youth Climate Strike at the Los Angeles City Hall. She went to the strike because "we made some advances for the climate but I think people need to stay angry." Sept. 23, 2022, at the Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, Calif. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

Sim Bilal painting YCSLA (Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles) onto a high visibility jacket, during a sign making event, for the Youth Climate Strike at the Los Angeles City Hall the next day. Sim is the main organizor and director for the Youth Climate Strike. Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 22, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

One of Merav Price's signs for the Youth Climate Strike at Los Angeles City Hall made during a sign making event the evening before the strike. Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept 22, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

As temperatures continue to rise and the environment continues to be depleted, many young people have taken to demanding change. On Friday, September 23, Youth Climate Strike LA, a coalition of environmental causes started by Greta Thunberg in 2018, held a protest in front of City Hall.

Attendees, most of whom were students, gathered around a parked flatbed truck that was set up as a makeshift soundstage on Main St. They listened to organizers read out a list of demands surrounding this year’s theme, #PeopleNotProfit. Some of these demands included ensuring climate justice and equity and advocating for The Beyond Recovery Platform - which partially aims to increase green and shaded spaces in schools.

Youth co-organizers Merav Price and Sim Bilal expressed similar concerns, many pertaining to local issues. Bilal said, “Right now in LA City Council, there are about 18 seats that sit within the chambers every single day and of the 18, only three have signed the no fossil fuel money pledge.” Attendees were pleading that LA’s mayoral candidates refuse any campaign money from the fossil fuel industry.

Referencing the Beyond Recovery Platform, Bilal said, “And then we’re also striking against [the] Board of Education for LAUSD, because, you know, for years, communities that are black and brown have been complaining about the inequitable access to resources... they don’t have access to green spaces.” He goes on to express concern over limited access to AC and shaded areas during the Los Angeles heatwave. An Occidental Student, Eliza Portman, said she “passed by one of the LAUSD elementary schools and it’s 100% asphalt and it’s built on top of a parking lot, so they can’t plant anything on that campus.”

Lydia Ponce, representing the Tongva Tribe, was there to support Price as she voiced indigenous concerns. In this list of demands, Price said, “safeguard vital ecosystems like the Amazon through a recognition of the most criminal global transgression of all Ecocide. Consecrate the very lands of natural life and support indigenous autonomy.”

Led by their teacher, a group of high school students from Brío College Preparatory joined the strike. Student leader, Rosemary, who declined to give her last name under advice from her teacher because she’s underage, spoke about how she created a group just last year to spread awareness about climate change. Her take on the movement as a whole reflected the wishes of many people there. Rosemary said, “We’re all affected by this, if you’re for it, you’re on the right track but if you’re not, like research and actually know what you’re fighting for.”

Sim Bilal encourages more people to join the cause, saying, “we need you here. We’re suffering out here, we’re dying and we need more voices. We need more youth.”

Since Fridays for Future’s founding in 2018, an organization that partnered for the strike, the movement has recorded involvement in 232 countries, 8.7k cities, over 158k events and 18 million strikers - numbers which grow every year.

KP Polsky at Youth Climate Strike L.A's art build on Sept. 22, 2022 creating protest signs for the next day's Global Climate Strike at City Hall. Sept. 22 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Merav Price, a member of Youth Climate Strike L.A cuts creates protest banners out of long linen sheets. Sept. 22, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Sim Bilai, leader of Youth Climate Strike L.A. (YCS L.A.), a youth led community group focused on mitigating Los Angeles' climate emergency, creates stencils and art about combating climate change for tomrorow's Global Climate Strike. YCS L.A will be joined by other youth groups and are marching to City Hall. Sept. 22, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

An upcycled art piece made from old decorative lights and recycled materials by Shamiran Sateri, co-owner of the Families 4 a Future warehouse. Sept. 22 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Shekinah Deocares paints the background of a sign board at Youth Climate Strike L.A's art build on Sept. 22, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

KP Polsky and Shekinah Deocares paint and create posters about climate change for Youth Climate Strike LA's Global Climate Strike that is taking place the next day. Sept. 22, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

KP Polsky, Shekinah Deocares and Sim Bilal, leader of Youth Climate Strike L.A. (YCSLA) prepare for the youth group's Global Climate Strike. The protest takes place the next day on Sept. 23, 2022 by City Hall. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Cameron Levin, runs the non-profit community group Families 4 a Future and recently opened up a warehouse Downtown, which Levin calls 'Home' where he plans on using as a community space for youth groups like Youth Climate Strike L.A and others to gather and connect. Sept. 22 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

"We're targeting the Board of Education for LAUSD, we're targeting City Council, we're targeting the mayor we're targeting all like the candidates running. Right now. We're using the strike to one, not only just bring awareness to the fact that Los Angeles isn't acting on the climate crisis like they claim they are. It's also bringing accountability and awareness and like actual action from politicians," said Sim Bilal, leader of the yout led community group Youth Climate Strike L.A. Sept. 22 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)