Wildfire Victims, Activists to Rally for Fossil Fuel Accountability in Pasadena

People who lost their homes in recent Los Angeles County wildfires will join environmental activists and union members Tuesday at the Pasadena Community Job Center for a rally and news conference aimed at drawing the connection between fossil fuel corporations and the recent wildfire which destroyed Altadena and parts of Pasadena.

The “Invest in Communities, Not Fossil Fuels” demonstration will begin at 11 a.m. and continue onwards at the center, located at 500 N. Lake Ave., as part of a coordinated day of action across California.

A similar rally is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in Northern California, at the Richmond Chevron Refinery.

Protesters will call on CalPERS, the state’s largest pension fund, to divest from fossil fuel investments that they say are “further fueling the fires,” according to event contacts.

The rally is being organized by several groups, including Fossil Free California (FFCA), California Common Good, Sierra Club, and the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment.

“We use the ashes to make the paint because it brings the destruction from the climate change and from the oil companies and reuses them to send a clear message,” Aparicio explained when discussing the project.

Altadena artist Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio, who lost his home in the Eaton wildfire, will lead participants in completing a large-scale mural created with ashes collected from burn sites in Altadena.

“We use the ashes to make the paint because it brings the destruction from the climate change and from the oil companies and reuses them to send a clear message,” Aparicio explained when discussing the project.

Organizers say the mural will travel to Sacramento next week for a planned protest at the CalPERS Board Meeting on Monday, March 17.

Speakers will address topics ranging from climate justice to state investment policies, while performers will contribute cultural and artistic dimensions to the gathering.

The artistic community in Altadena was particularly hard-hit by the fires, with more than 50 artists losing homes or studios, including the complete destruction of the Alto Beta gallery, which had showcased emerging artists and experimental projects.

The demonstration comes as Pasadena has been working toward eliminating fossil fuels from its power grid by 2030. Pasadena Water and Power reports achieving 40% renewable energy generation, surpassing the state target of 38.5%.

The rally is part of a broader “Make Polluters Pay” campaign coinciding with California’s ongoing lawsuits against major oil companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell. The state alleges these companies concealed the climate impacts of their products since the 1970s. Benjamin Franta, an Oxford climate law expert cited in reports about the case, has likened these lawsuits to tobacco litigation, noting that “The damages could be enormous.”