Students unite for climate action

On Nov. 14, students from Samo and Palisades Charter High School gathered for a joint climate rally in front of the Santa Monica Pier. The rally centered around the “Make Polluters Pay” campaign, which aims to hold large companies accountable for environmental and health issues that they have contributed towards. 

Protesters specifically directed their efforts toward the Santa Monica City Council and local Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, encouraging them to endorse the “Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025” (AB 1243), which has stalled in the California State Legislature since April. Senator Benjamin Allen (’96), whose district covers Santa Monica, helped co-author the bill. 

Mark Schneeman (’26), a core leader who helped organize the rally, described the goal of the movement. 

“Big companies and oil companies are the ones that are making climate change and pollution… So they should be the ones paying for the damages that they’ve caused,” Schneeman said. 

The bill aims to create a "superfund" paid for by large fossil fuel companies, which would use the funds to cover “expenditures for projects and programs to mitigate, adapt, or respond to the damages and costs caused to the state from climate change,” per the text of the bill.

“We did the protest down by the pier, just because it’s a huge tourist attraction and a big location with a lot of people. The idea was that every time the crosswalk flashed, we went out with our signs and showed everyone coming by what was going on,” Scheeman said. 

Throughout the afternoon and despite the rain, members reported steady public engagement, which consisted of brief honks from cars and questions for information concerning the campaign. Protesters carried homemade signs and came up with chants that supported their views for change. 

Following the Jan.Palisade fires and after relocating to the Sears Building, Pali is continuing its commitment to advocating for environmental issues through their annual protests. This proximity between the two campuses led to Pali and Samo students partnering together, offering a unique chance for both schools to connect and participate in the rally. 

Alongside Team Marine and students from both schools, the rally was arranged with the help of AP Environmental Science teachers Steve Engelmann from Pali and Benjamin Kay from Samo, and local organizations such as Resilient Palisades and Third Act SoCal. 

The local action coincided with the Global Climate Strike coordinated by Fridays For Future, a global youth climate movement. This year’s protest aligned with COP30, an annual conference where global leaders negotiate climate concerns. The strike was also centered around the theme #JustTransitionNow, which calls for a rapid and just transition away from fossil fuels.

Dylan Jericiau (’26) described his experience at the protest. 

“It felt like we were stronger, because it’s not just Team Marine or a couple people in Santa Monica High School, it’s people all across the country that share the same understanding and care,” Jericiau said.