On Monday, climate protesters took to the streets of D.C., vandalizing a statue of Andrew Jackson and crowding the White House in the process.
The protesters came from the Build Back Fossil Free coalition, which has organized a five day protest to encourage the Biden Administration to take action against climate change.
Siqiñiq Maupin, director of coalition core member the Sovereign Inupiat for a Living Arctic, made an announcement that the protest was occurring.
Maupin said “People are dying right now from the pollutants, the toxins, the climate catastrophes that are happening — and we have to stop the harm”. “Biden’s election was riding on climate change; his entire election hinged on turning out people of color and Indigenous people,” she added.
During the protests Monday, U.S. Park Police got involved and warned of action if the protesters didn’t leave. A protester was handcuffed while screaming “I don’t want to die!”
Jacqui Heinrich tweeted a photo of the vandalized statue of Andrew Jackson. Protesters wrote “Expect us” and Heinrich explained that they were chanting “respect us or expect us”.
The coalition has been protesting climate change and hopes Biden will follow his promises. Each of the five days of protests will feature a different theme. Monday’s theme was Indigenous Peoples Day.