On Oct. 24, BVH senior representatives Frida Vergara and Ashlay Mayorga, led an environmental on-campus walkout during lunch. With the help of both BVH administration and teachers, they were able to set up a table on the grassfield, present speeches from student speakers and walk around the field chanting in unison holding signs. 

The main activity was signing a large poster calling for Assemblymember David Alvarez to vote yes on the Make Polluters Pay Act. This act was in response to major oil companies who were not paying for the environmental damage they have caused.

“We expect Assemblymember Alvarez to support us and show us that he cares for our students. We also want other people to know about this bill and be aware of it because we believe it is something very important to care about for our future. As students, we want to fight back,” Vergara said.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Senior Gabriella Ramirez Robledo is seen signing the petition to Assemblymember David Alvarez. Many students who attend the walkout sign their names and signatures on a long piece of paper.

After encouraging the students who attended to sign the poster, Vergara and Ashley allowed for some students to share their thoughts and beliefs on the bill and climate change as a whole. Among these students was senior Areli Rojas who discussed her shift in perspective on climate change when witnessing the reduction in greenery within San Diego.

“I felt devastated to see the change in my environment, so I began researching what was going on and who was impacting this. I found out that big corporations were the ones who were the big impactors. It does not only affect us, it affects everyone now. We only have four years left until climate change is irreversible, and we have to take action before it is too late,” Rojas said. 

After a handful of speakers shared, students were told to prepare to start walking as a group around the field. Before doing so, Vergara, Ashley and a few other attendees began painting “oil” on their faces–charchoal mixed with water–to put emphasis on their cause and to call out big oil companies. Once everyone was prepared, the group began their walk, in which Vergara and Maygora led whilst holding large signs and posters.

“Overall, I think the walkout turned out well and I saw a lot of excitement. To see the crowd believing that we could have a cleaner future fulfills my expectations and my joy,” Vergara said. 

The process leading up to the walkout required organization and assistance from Principal Dr. Alexander Salazar. Upon being contacted by Vergara and Maygora, he was happy to assist with the involvement of student activism by providing microphones and the space for students to gather. Additionally, he would take the needed procedures, such as supervision, to ensure the safety of all those who attended and observed. 

“Outside of the topic [of climate change] itself, I like to say that I ‘want to protect the student experience,’ which is what I think about as an educator. This is about helping students develop their voice. The impact of this [walkout] is that students can see they can do these types of things and will receive support,” Dr. Salazar said. 

Overall, the support from administration, attendance from BVH students and effective activities have made Vergara and Maygora feel successful about their organized walkout. A common chant in the walkout was “The people united will never be defeated,” which emphasized the representatives’ goal in creating a space where more students are aware about climate issues.

“We have to act now, because [our] futures depend on it. There are many students that say, ‘I’ll start tomorrow,’ but they never do it. It is very important to start today, because we never know what will happen tomorrow,” Maygora said. “This is a big problem, because it is not just up to me. It is up to you, because it is your future too. It is about us, it is about our future. It is about what is going to happen.”