Washington, DC – Decentralized climate protest actions plan to “block key infrastructure to stop business-as-usual” in the US capitol today to demand politicians take action to address climate change.

Groups that announced plans to carry out disruptions and protests across DC include Black Lives Matter DC, Rising Tide North America, Extinction Rebellion, the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and CODEPINK.

Local news reports and statements by city officials are telling commuters to expect delays and to consider taking public transit instead of driving to work.

A press release from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office states that her administration would be “monitoring” protests and had tasked Homeland Security fusion center officials to surveil events throughout the day. DC Metropolitan Police (MPD) released a statement saying that “our Special Operations Division is equipped to handle First Amendment assemblies of any stature.”

MPD’s Special Operations Division is usually assigned to police crowds at demonstrations as well as sporting events. During President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2017, MPD Commander Keith Deville was leading the Special Operations Division when he ordered officers to detain and mass-arrest an entire antifascist protest march.

Today’s blockades and disruptions come on the heels of the international youth ‘Climate Strike’ last Friday (September 20, 2019.) Friday’s international #ClimateStrike day of action saw millions take the streets as students walked out of class to demand drastic action to mitigate runaway human-caused climate change.

Our Shut Down DC coverage: