Face of Nation : Activists calling for action on climate change plan to disrupt morning commutes across the Washington, D.C., Monday morning, just days after hundreds of thousands demonstrated alongside school children for Global Climate Strike rallies.
Shut Down D.C. aims to “disrupt the systems that created and perpetuate the climate crisis” and block key intersections across the city to disrupt traffic.
The group says on its website that demonstrators will meet early Monday at four locations across the city, which are near high volume intersections, busy metro lines and Union Station.
Intersections including Massachusetts Avenue and North Capitol, New York Avenue and I-395, and 2nd Street SE and Independence Avenue were planned to be disrupted, and the group also is also planning to gather near the White House, Capitol Hill and ICE headquarters, the Washingtonian reported.
“It’s anyone’s guess if they will actually cause widespread traffic delays,” said WTOP’s traffic reporter Dave Dildine. “Causing ‘gridlock’ wouldn’t be as easy as blocking a random intersection or two.” Public transit agencies were also warning riders to be aware for their morning trips.
“Amtrak customers using Washington, D.C. (WAS) Union Station tomorrow (9/23) should allow extra time because of planned protests and expected traffic issues,” Amtrak tweeted. Maryland Department of Transportation also warned of “possible delays” due to the protests.
D.C.’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency said it would be operating a command center to monitor the potential disruptions.
The group, a coalition of other activist organizations in the District, is demanding climate change actions that include transitioning to 100% renewable energy production by 2030, protecting and restoring of 50% of the world’s land and oceans and honoring the rights of indigenous people’s lands.
“It’s Washington, D.C. The decisions that are made in this town don’t just affect the people in the U.S., they affect the globe every day,” organizer Liz Butler told the Washington Post. “I think people around the world are counting on us to be able to stand up in D.C.”
