Climate activists disrupted Washington, D.C.'s Monday morning commute by blocking key intersections to protest "the systems that created and perpetuate the climate crisis," per Shut Down D.C., the protest group that organized the strike.
The big picture: The organizers planned the shutdown on the same day that the United Nations hosts global leaders for its climate change summit at the UN General Assembly.
In photos and videos:
I’m in downtown DC where climate activists with Extinction Rebellion have blocked the intersection of K and 16th streets with a big sailboat that says “rebel for life.” @WTOP @WTOPtraffic #ShutDownDC pic.twitter.com/NWIO1aRvM3
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) September 23, 2019
Police are using a saw to separate the links protesters have attached themselves to the boat with. They’ve given those people flame-resistant blankets for the sparks. And ear protection. #ShutDownDC pic.twitter.com/FweMWz83O8
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) September 23, 2019
8:47 am: Climate protesters shut down part of Dupont Circle - police rerouting rush hour commuters to go in the wrong direction pic.twitter.com/Qlx4HS5Wm8
— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) September 23, 2019
On the day of the #UNClimateActionSummit, there's a huge climate action happening in Washington DC. Activist orgs & affinity groups are shutting down intersections around the city. In the face of the climate crisis, we need to halt business as usual. #ShutDownDC pic.twitter.com/sfuNV7gsGO
— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) September 23, 2019
#ShutDownDC MPD just towed a van with climate activists on top of it pic.twitter.com/FuAlTqYqyR
— Ben Nichols (@benrnichols) September 23, 2019
Go deeper: NYC says 1.1M students can skip school for climate strike protest
