On May 20, 2022 thousands of Portland students walked out of school to demand bold action to address the climate crisis. The student strike targeted three local "climate villains": Northwest Natural, the Portland Business Alliance, Zenith Energy, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Jan Haaken talks with Adah Crandall, Calliope Ruskin and Liam Castles, organizers with Sunrise PDX’s Youth Vs ODOT campaign, about why they targeted ODOT as a climate villain and their reactions to recent City Council hearings on proposed freeway expansions. They also discuss dilemmas around holding politicians accountable in their pledges to take action on climate change.
Adah Crandall (she/her) is the co-lead of Portland Youth Climate Strike and will be a senior at Grant High School this fall. Calliope Ruskin (he/they) will be a junior at Grant High School this fall. Liam Castles (he/they) is a member of the Portland Youth Climate Strike policy team and recently graduated from Cleveland High School.
- KBOO