Portland area high school students are organizing a city-wide strike on May 20, 2022. Unlike past climate strikes in Portland, the youth organizers aren’t planning to drum up attention for one day before the rest of the City returns to business as usual. Instead, May 20 will launch a summer of climate action, and this time, the youth have massive support from both community organizations and adults. 

The young people have created a multigenerational strategic campaign to target Portland’s top four “Climate Villains” who are contributing to the climate crisis through their emissions, using marketing techniques and misleading advertising to confuse the public, and by spending money on lobbying and campaign contributions to undermine the democratic process and opportunities for strong climate action through public policy. The Climate Villains the youth are calling attention to are: NW Natural, Zenith Energy, Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Portland Business Alliance. 

On May 20 and throughout the summer, the youth and their supporters will be demanding that decision makers choose a side: support a livable future for Portland’s youngest generations or back the Climate Villains. 

Maia Lippay, strike organizer and sophomore at St. Mary’s High School, said: 

“This strike amplifies and brings together youth voices at a critical time for climate justice. While organizing the strike, I have seen youth like me working to make real and effective change. The strike has the potential to enable young people across Portland to do the same.”

JJ Klein-Wolf (she/her), strike organizer and sophomore at Ida B Wells High School, said: 

“To me, it’s important that we pull youth and adults into this strike because issues of climate change won’t just affect the future generations; they are affecting us now. Actions taken today will build a stronger foundation for change, which will help create a better future. As much as teens seem like they can do everything on their own, we need strong adult role models and support to continue achieving our goal of a stronger and safer tomorrow.” 

Niomi Markel (she/her), strike organizer and junior at St. Mary’s High School, said: 

“In the time that I should’ve spent studying for my SAT, I instead, worked to organize this strike, because I realized that I won’t have much of a future beyond the SAT if politicians and corporations don’t listen to and act on our demands. The climate movement is important to me because I’m fighting for my right to live in a world that isn’t part flooding and part forest fires.” 

Adah Crandall (she/her), strike organizer and sophomore at Grant High School, said: 

“My generation is terrified for the future we stand to inherit. In the face of a catastrophic climate crisis, we are calling on our leaders to enact bold and radical changes before it is too late. Young people are powerful, but we cannot fight this fight alone. We need adults to go beyond calling youth activists ‘inspiring’- they must join this movement with us and do their part to protect our shared future.”

Jacob Glass (he/him), strike organizer and junior at Ida B. Wells High School, said: 

“This strike is important because we are running out of time. We need to take drastic action and we need to take it soon. Our city needs to recognize the companies most harming our environment and stop them from continuing to hurt our communities. My future is being cut short every day we continue to sit by and do nothing.” 

The community will gather at 11:00 am at City Hall, where the youth will announce their demands and ask elected officials to sign a climate pledge. At noon, the youth will lead a march ending at Revolution Hall around 2:00 pm where they will join the Portland Climate Festival. 

Follow Portland Youth Climate Strike on Twitter and Instagram for the latest developments.