Oakland youth march for a coal-free future

Organized and led by youth activist Mykela Patton of Oakland Tech, a spirited group of young people marched from the Emiliano Zapata Street Academy high school through downtown Oakland.

With drums, tamborines, kazoos, and their voices they protested the dire pollution threatened by Phil Tagami’s effort to bring coal from Utah to the Oakland waterfront. The young people were joined by about a dozen elder supporters, all marching against coal.

The group of about fifty gathered at Oscar Grant plaza for their rally after marching around Phil Tagami’s Rotunda building calling out:

“When Oakland air is under attack what do we do? Stand Up! Fight Back!”

Almost every speaker was under twenty years old. One after another they spoke with eloquence and intelligence about the toxic threat that would come to Oakland from mile-long coal trains shedding coal dust. They each vowed to fight the long fight to protect Oakland’s air and health from coal and all fossil fuel pollution.

Thanks to Rhonesha Victor for the photos!

Oakland youth march against coal, 31 Jan 2018. Photo credit: Rhonesha Victor.

Oakland youth march for a coal-free future

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