Climate demonstrators organize outside of HUB against Amazon (2025)

A coalition of climate activists gathered outside the HUB on April 8 to host a mock career fair of Amazon in an attempt to spread awareness to UW students about the emissions created by Amazon’s operations.

The coalition was made up of members from Stand.earth, Ship It Zero, the University of Washington Institutional Climate Action Chapter, and Troublemakers. Participants stood outside the HUB while the 2025 In-Person Spring Jobs and Internship Fair occurred. Amazon was not present at the career fair.

Jim Ace, the senior campaigner and actions manager for Stand.earth, was one of the demonstrators pushing for Amazon to decarbonize shipping and deliveries by 2030.

“Amazon’s pollution affects not just the climate, but communities,” Ace said. “The trucks that it uses to move its goods back and forth, the ships, the planes … not only is it polluting the climate, but also polluting communities and impacting public health.”

Ace stated their desire for a member of the company to step up and shift the company towards a more sustainable route.

“We’re looking for leadership from this company,” Ace said. “It’s a massive company, very influential, and we believe Amazon can provide the leadership to invest and shift the market … what the specific package of solutions looks like is really to be determined, but it’s going to require investment and commitment from large companies like Amazon.”

Other participants outside the HUB were handing out information sheets and stickers displaying photos of Amazon vehicles releasing carbon exhaust, calling the company “prime polluter.” The backside of the information sheet listed off a “screening application” with various yes and no questions, including “Do you mind if Amazon burns a ton of fossil fuel?”

The mock career fair differed from a traditional demonstration and instead was hosted in the style of individuals asking students entering the HUB if they would like to work for a company that releases high levels of carbon emissions. Colleen Kimseylove, a participant of the coalition event, was one of the mock recruiters.

“We are looking to recruit the next generation of Amazon employees to ensure that our track record of polluting the air, climate, and communities around us continues into future generations,” Kimseylove said. “We hope to ensure that students know they have an option for a future career that will help them make the world worse.”

Ace stated that the purpose of hosting a mock career fair outside of the actual career fair was to take a humorous approach to educate the public about Amazon and the pollution created by the company.

“This isn’t a protest,” Ace said. “We’re raising awareness among UW students and the UW community.”

Reach UWPD beat writer Lucas Schultze at news@dailyuw.com X:@lawschultze

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