More than 100 progressive protestors were arrested after storming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) office, demanding he support the Green New Deal.
The protest comes after McConnell has said the Senate will vote on the proposal. The vote is being seen as a way of getting Democrats to decide where they stand on the issue, while most Republicans oppose the ambiguous proposal championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Protestors held various signs and wore shirts with sayings like, "Mitch, Look us in the eyes" and "Oil and Gay Money or Save Our Lives."
"We wanted to deliver 100,000 signatures from across the country (from) people that support Ocasio and Markey's Green New Deal," 17-year-old Destine Grigsby of Louisville, Kentucky told staff in McConnell's office, according to a CNN report. "We also wanted to ask if we could deliver some stories to him, if we could ... tell him why were here and why we support the Green New Deal."
The protest was put together by the Sunrise Movement, whose mission is to "build an army of young people to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process."
According to the group's website, the protestors who marched on McConnell's office are from Kentucky:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has announced he’s rushing the Green New Deal resolution to a vote in the Senate as early as next week. He's wagering that this will kill our momentum.
On Monday Feb 25, young people from Kentucky – McConnell's home state – are planning to confront him in DC. We will join them to ask Mitch McConnell to look us in the eyes and tell us why he’s putting his oil and gas donors above our generations’ survival.
We’re putting all Senators on notice: if you stand with Mitch McConnell and his billionaire friends, instead of standing for the our generation’s future, we’ll remember that when next time you want our votes.
Here's a look at what unfolded:
NOW: More than 100 climate protestors with @sunrisemvmt about to storm @senatemajldr’s office to demand a Green New Deal. pic.twitter.com/0Pe0kStGlh
— Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) February 25, 2019
.@sunrisemvmt protestors have now taken over @senatemajldr office. Staff has offered to see if someone can meet with them.
— Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) February 25, 2019
Banner reads, “Mitch, Look Us in the Eyes.” pic.twitter.com/B9wdrdP0Lo
.@sunrisemvmt protestors chant inside @senatemajldr’s office pic.twitter.com/oPlN7ydldF
— Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) February 25, 2019
View of youth advocates from @sunrisemvmt prior to storming @senatemajldr office pic.twitter.com/VL2b0uAijM
— Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) February 25, 2019
Before arresting protestors, Capitol Hill police told them to roll up their signs and made them aware that it is unlawful to protest inside of a Congressional office building. But that didn't deter them.
Capitol police just told protesters outside of McConnell’s office to roll up their signs, giving them first warning pic.twitter.com/X8g1lDDKxE
— aída chávez (@aidachavez) February 25, 2019
Even as they were being walked out in handcuffs, protestors continued to sing in solidarity with other protestors lined along the walls of the Congressional building.
.@sunrisemvmt protestors are arrested by Capitol Police. At least several dozen. pic.twitter.com/jCt8b2YZ3M
— Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) February 25, 2019
39 young people were just arrested after occupying Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office to demand urgent climate action and a Green New Deal pic.twitter.com/RegeRGgxKz
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) February 26, 2019
Capitol Police arrested 42 protesters advocating for Green New Deal outside of Senate Majority Leader McConnell's office Monday. - @frankthorp pic.twitter.com/YAYkjPJEZH
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 25, 2019
After the ordeal was over, the Sunrise Movement took to Twitter to critique McConnell's statement on the issue:
.@Team_Mitch: your statement is bullshit.
— Sunrise Movement ?? (@sunrisemvmt) February 25, 2019
If you had the decency to #LookUsInTheEyes you would have heard the urgent demand for a #GreenNewDeal from Kentucky's future. You're not bringing the #GreenNewDeal to a vote b/c you support it—you're playing political games w/our lives. pic.twitter.com/0EBUNXjBPb
The "meeting" in KY came after multiple attempts to reach you and after camping outside your office to get your attention. We weren't listened to & were told that KY doesn't want the promise of good jobs, clean air & water, & a livable future that the #GreenNewDeal represents.
— Sunrise Movement ?? (@sunrisemvmt) February 25, 2019
If you want to prove this vote is not full of shit, champion the #GreenNewDeal & return the $1.9 million you've taken from Big Oil & Gas.
— Sunrise Movement ?? (@sunrisemvmt) February 25, 2019
Otherwise, expect the wrath of our generation every day from now until Nov 3rd, 2020 when we kick you out of office once and for all.
The Sunrise Movement has also taken aim at Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
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