Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed suit against ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute, accusing the fossil fuel organizations of defrauding consumers by covering up the effects of climate change. Minnesota joins at least 15 other plaintiffs, including attorneys general in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, who have brought similar lawsuits. Ellison was joined at a news conference Wednesday by Juwaria Jama, a 16-year-old leader with the Minnesota Youth Climate Strike.

Juwaria Jama: “These corporations knew the impacts of climate change long before. They could have sounded the alarm and began working toward solutions. Instead, they decided to deceive the public. They knew exactly what was happening, and instead of making choices to repair our planet, they covered up the damage. Instead of allowing experts to craft solutions, they hid the problem. I am here today because these corporations have gone far too long without ever being held accountable for the damages they have caused to our globe and our future.”