Activists took to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles on Friday afternoon for the LA youth climate strike, featuring speeches by various environmental youth activists, including Greta Thunberg.
Before beginning a march through downtown, activists gathered in front of a stage set up in front of the Los Angeles City Hall. Many brought homemade signs promoting various messages related to climate and environmental issues.
Volunteers walked backward just in front of the protestors to help pace the march.
Cameron Best (right) and Moises, a local rapper, are students for social justice at Los Angeles City College and brought a banner about indigenous justice to the march.
The strike occurred during Día de los Muertos, so some participants dressed up in costumes as they marched the streets.
Performers with the international movement Extinction Rebellion dressed in bright red cloaks, moving slowly between different positions. The red symbolizes the shared blood between species, and the movement aims to halt mass extinction events.
A protestor holds up a sign about the negative effects of the animal agriculture industry.
Volunteers with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals hold signs and talk to attendees about the benefits of going vegan.
Alex Chabbott (right) speaks passionately to attendees of the march as they walk by his ''Zine Library'' on environmental and social justice. Chabbott said many issues are connected including climate change, environmentalism, social justice, mental health and the effects of prisons on communities.
Jay Cho from Santa Monica High School donned a gas mask and used plastic bags to create an outfit representing the consequences of not acting against climate change. He was representing Team Marine, an eco-action group at the high school.
Youth at the front of the march hold up a large banner, leading others behind them.
Demonstrators demanded that Gov. Gavin Newsom decrease fossil fuel production in the state of California. California is one of the largest oil-producing states, despite its enactment of multiple green energy policies.
Greta Thunberg wrapped up the event with a speech to the crowd, emphasizing the need for marginalized groups to have a voice. Several local activists at the event spoke on how residents of communities disproportionately impacted by pollution have fought for clean air and environmental justice for a long time.
Activists representing various groups and causes were present at the march, including representatives from Tongva communities.