More than 300 activists from a broad variety of environmental groups, indigenous, Filipino, youth and unions representing airport workers, Service Employees International Union or SEIU and immigrants’ rights groups like The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights or CHIRLA, participated in the spirited rally and march in downtown LA, Sept. 15 at noon. The action was principally called by Extinction Rebellion, Sunrise-LA and Families for Future.
There were middle and high school delegations and students coming from Pasadena, Glendale, University of Southern California, University of California Irvine and California State University, Long Beach.
The big national action took place in New York City, Sept. 23 where 75,000 marched to demand Joe Biden act on climate change including refusing any new leases for oil or gas exploration on federal lands and to promote and finance a switch to more renewable energies.
Participants were also pressuring LA elected officials to actively address the climate crisis by fighting for freedom from fossil fuels. Youth Climate Strike-LA called out the inactions of local officials, demanding immediate action on the climate crisis.
“The climate crisis is escalating faster than we can adapt. Yet the adults in power in Los Angeles can’t be bothered to implement the laws they pass to help us adjust to the climate emergency. What does that tell us? Either our current electees are incompetent, or they don’t care. The trust is [that] my generation will not survive if we inherit this city that isn’t ready for the climate emergency. This is us taking matters into our own hands,” said Sim Bilal, lead organizer YCSLA.
Members of the LA Hands Off Cuba committee also participated, pointing to Cuba’s leading role in fighting climate change, despite the U.S. blockade of 60 years and the U.S.’ stifling of scientific exchange between the two countries.
Mark Friedman is as associate member, International Association of Machinists local 1484.