MLK Day Climate Rally Brings Together Youth for Nonviolent Resistance and Radical Hope

Freshly screen printed patches hang to dry on a clothesline in Dolores Park

On January 19th, 2026, climate activists — from elementary schoolers to retirees — gathered for the second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Climate Rally hosted by the Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (BAYCS).

This year’s motto, “Out of a mountain of despair, together we’re stones of hope,” took inspiration from Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” address, stressing his message of peaceful protest as the most powerful way to enact change.

The event brought together students from across the Bay Area for a day of poster making, banner painting, screenprinting, poetry, speeches, and community, blending creative expression with calls to address federal inaction on climate change. Participants shared personal stories, connected with fellow leaders, and ended the day with a march around the park.

Attendees march with the rally banner

BAYCS’s first climate rally, held last year on MLK Day, coincided with Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. Its message, “Together we unite beyond Trump,” was meant to strengthen community resolve in anticipation of rollbacks of important environmental legislation. 

In just a year, the Trump administration has cut or froze funding to FEMA, the EPA, and NOAA, withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, repealed the Endangerment Finding that forces the government to protect against climate pollution, and scrubbed mentions of climate change and environmental justice from federal websites and material, among many other attacks. With so many blows to the climate advocacy community, many attendees expressed a desire for positivity and joy to combat general feelings of distress.

The deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minnesota was another point of concern for many youth at the rally, who connected climate change to the current political climate with an apt sign: “Melt ICE, not ice caps.”

In her opening speech, MC and BAYCS member Zoe Seims thanked attendees for taking time out of their weekend to fight for a cause that mattered. She also touched on current events, such as the recent murder of Renee Good, and emphasized the need to fight for justice now more than ever. 

“Our commitment to climate justice is inseparable from the fight for social justice, and as we raise our voices, we carry forward a legacy of nonviolent resistance and radical hope,” Seims said in her speech.

Performers Kai Neal (far right) and Remedy Le (middle right) pose for a photo with other attendees

Speakers at the event included BAYCS members, climate action leader Robert Whitehair, youth activists Freyjaa Singh Kirti, Ellen Goncharov, Leia Burlingham, and Gabbie Listana, and rally planning-coalition members Bryan Saavedra and Destiney Nava. They shared their climate stories, recited impactful poetry, and reflected on the words of Dr. King in the context of today’s issues. Kai Neal and Remedy Le, members of the group Hip Hop for Change, also performed original pieces centered on self-empowerment and social justice. 

Singh Kirti, a student at Granada High School in Livermore, drew a crowd with her reflection on the responsibilities of the people during America’s 250th anniversary. 

“That word—’more.’ Our country was not made to be a perfect union, but a more perfect one. Not perfection—which is the work of gods—but progress, which is the work of citizens. The ‘more’ is our inheritance. The ‘more’ is our obligation. The ‘more’ is our sacrifice to make and our promise to keep. The work continues. The sacrifice continues. And so, with clear eyes and willing hearts, must we. Because we demand more,” Singh Kirti declared. 

Artists David Solnit and Paul Kjelland were instrumental in helping the rally come to life, stepping forward for a second year to lead the creation of the protest banner and screen-printed patches worn by attendees in a show of support. The banner, designed by BAYCS Co-Chair Kate Ozaeta, bore the words “Out of a mountain of despair, together we’re stones of hope. Youth for Environmental Justice,” and attendees were able to decorate the surrounding space with their “stones” of hope. Some chose to draw pictures of trees, butterflies, and flowers, while others wrote messages in various languages. 

For many attendees, this was their first time ever attending any sort of protest or rally. That inexperience was evident in the first few chants, which were punctuated by nervous laughter and smiles. However, with words of support from the crowds of locals and tourists at the park, the chants grew louder. People walking by stepped to the side to take videos, and passing cars slowed down and honked in support. 

Chant leader and BAYCS member Avalon Wood encouraged youth to step out of their comfort zone and attend similar events.

“Activism and rallies can be really scary because of everything we see on the news. Even if you’re unsure, just be that voice for change, be the good, and just don’t be scared. We’re awesome, and we’re not scary, and we all are here for the same reason,” Wood said.