Climate change activists took to the streets of Washington, D.C., Monday morning to grind the gears of government to a halt with a “#ShutDownDC” strike at rush hour — but they may not have been quite as effective as initially hoped.
The rally was loosely affiliated with last weeks’ “Climate Strike” student marches and aimed to “shut down” the country’s capital, “disrupt the systems that created and perpetuate the climate crisis,” and block commuters from getting to their jobs by staging sit down protests and impromptu dance parties in key areas of the city.
The group planned to “shut down” “high-volume intersections, busy metro lines and Union Station,” and “planned to gather near the White House, Capitol Hill and ICE headquarters” beause the march was “intersectional” and featured a pro-immigration contingent.
By noon, around 26 people had been arrested, per USA Today, but not much of DC had been disrupted. DC police told media that most of the blockades had been cleared by early afternoon, including the largest blockade at 16th and K Street. Some commuters reported three hour drives into work, but the lack of complaints about snarled traffic on social media belied a major flaw in the protesters’ strategy: those most affected by “ShutdownDC” were low-income workers who have no work-from-home option, not lobbyists and aides who can operate remotely.
But while the #ShutDownDC march might not have accomplished its aims — namely to bring an immediate halt to the practice of capitalism in order to save the Earth — it did provide a measure of entertainment to its social media audience. And there were definitely some highlights:
First and foremost, the “face” of #ShutDownDC belongs to a group called “WERK for Peace,” which was established, its Twitter feed says, in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting and sees its mission as bringing love to the world through interpretive dance (this is a real non-profit that has staff and a budget). They provided on-the-scene dance instruction so that climate marchers could twerk in unison to stop corporate pollution. Or something.
Prepare your eyeballs.
Climate activists turning up the heat in front of the US Capitol. Roads remained closed, gridlock could last for hours. pic.twitter.com/iDl4Zq1Ncw
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) September 23, 2019
At one point on the parade route, #ShutDownDC marchers battled pollution by littering the streets (and the primary twerker) with colored confetti (which they did not clean up afterward, according to bystanders).
Out here shutting down DC for climate justice. STOP PIPELINES NOW! KEEP IT IN THE GROUND! #ShutdownDC @350_DC @sunrisemvmt @GretaThunberg @mdc_dsa pic.twitter.com/QntcNH6QO5
— WERK for Peace (@werkforpeace) September 23, 2019
Marchers were, apparently, protesting the construction of new oil pipelines designed to bring shale oil from Canada’s tar sands across thousands of miles to major ports and refineries. They may have already lost the battle; although the several pipelines tasked with carrying the oil may be delayed, Canada still intends to pump out its shale oil.
But twerking against carbon emissions wasn’t the only event happening in Washington, D.C., Monday morning. The “youth-driven” anti-carbon crusade also fought man-made climate change by chaining a bunch of handicapped Baby Boomers to a plastic sailboat.
Extinction Rebellion #ClimateStrike #ShutDownDC protesters say the sailboat blocking this intersection in NW DC is named after the Great Barrier Reef. pic.twitter.com/1u6e3DZviT
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 23, 2019
DC police were forced to use gas guzzling portable generators to remove the protesters (and their boat).
D.C. police are using a buzzsaw on the boat the Shut Down D.C. climate protesters brought to the intersection at 16th and K street. pic.twitter.com/IAIo85mIV3
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2019
Speaking of gas guzzling, the climate marchers blocked at least one intersection with the world’s last remaining conversion van, which cannot possibly be an eco-friendly, energy efficient vehicle.
Climate strikers are trying to shut down infrastructure in DC by refusing to move, and laying down on vehicles blocking intersections while their supporters say its “unsafe” to tow them while they’re on it. You know what? Tow that shit. #ShutDownDC pic.twitter.com/iZe6s9cLjw
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 23, 2019
And as usual, the march had its share of mission creep. Although “#ShutDownDC” purported to be an event designed to bring attention to a heating climate, attendees seemed oddly focused on “smashing captialism,” “eating the rich” (or killing them as the case may be), and agitating for open borders.
Shutting DC DOWN for climate action and migrant justice #ShutDownDC pic.twitter.com/LjU2ynBQbH
— Folabi Olagbaju (@calibantweet) September 23, 2019
The face of #ShutDownDC. pic.twitter.com/DjwYOz25tk
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 23, 2019
Some of the posters being put up by the climate protesters. pic.twitter.com/otHNnx4NgA
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2019
One of the signs at the Shut Down D.C. protest. pic.twitter.com/6OUgE4VVQH
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 23, 2019
Fortunately for those who rely on fossil fuels to survive, that protester doesn’t appear to have any muscle mass, and would probably be loathe to actually drag a lobbyist from his home to a guillotine, even if he did use his art degree to construct a working one.
There was also, appropriately, a Dumpster fire.
UPDATE: Dumpster Fire on Mass Avehttps://t.co/BfUFeUy45s pic.twitter.com/EinI4B6cKr
— PoPville (@PoPville) September 23, 2019
And a visit from Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin, who showed up to the event dressed as a giant bee in a costume she apparently borrowed from a middle schooler.
Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin pic.twitter.com/3BIR43eSkI
— Cameron Cawthorne (@Cam_Cawthorne) September 23, 2019
Unfortunately, there are no further public events planned for the anti-Climate Change groups. The party will now move to New York City, where activists will agitate for stricter global environmental policies at the United Nations.