About 30 La Jolla High School students stepped out of their sixth-period classes the afternoon of Oct. 24 to support legislation they say would hold polluters accountable for climate damage.
The event, called the Polluters Pay Youth Walkout, was one of 20 such demonstrations at schools across San Diego County, including The Preuss School at UC San Diego in La Jolla and UCSD itself.
The La Jolla High rally was organized by the school’s Environmental Action Club, led by junior Victoria Olivares, and co-organized by Youth v. Oil, a campaign tied to environmental advocacy organization SanDiego350.
Students gather at the corner of Nautilus Street and Fay Avenue in La Jolla during the Polluters Pay Youth Walkout. (Noah Lyons)
The walkout urged passage of the California Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, introduced in February as SB 684 by state Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) and AB 1243 by Assemblywoman Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay).
The legislation would “require fossil-fuel polluters to pay their fair share of the damage caused by greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere” between 1990 and 2024.
It lists climate-resilient schools, electric buses and more as things that could be covered by a superfund administered by the California Environmental Protection Agency.
La Jolla High students participating in the walkout heard remarks from San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography climate scientist Ian Campbell, as well as Olivares and student Annika Park.
San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava speaks at the Polluters Pay Youth Walkout at La Jolla High School. (Noah Lyons)
The City Council previously offered unanimous support for the state legislation, and LaCava spoke of the importance of students getting involved in the issue.
“These bills do indeed have widespread support, but they haven’t been adopted yet,” he told the students. “So your assignment is to join in, not just at moments like this, but greater activism opportunities.”
“Make no mistake,” he continued. “Your voice has power.”
Students then made their way to the corner of Nautilus Street and Fay Avenue, carrying signs with messages such as “Youth demand climate action” and “Make polluters pay.” Olivares led the way with a megaphone as some passing motorists honked their car horns in support.
Cindy Ueckert, a La Jolla High associate principal, said Olivares and Park told school administrators, including Principal Chuck Podhorsky, about the event as early as August.
Ueckert praised the students’ efforts in putting the walkout together.
“What I really like is the student voice and that we had so many students gather,” she said. “Our environmental clubs [have] also become very active on campus, so I’m really excited to help provide a safe space for students to speak their voice.” ♦