Eight young climate activists were detained today for interrupting the proceedings of US Congress. They are currently still in custody.
The activists interrupted the proceedings in the US House by singing one at a time. As each activist was detained and taken out, another began and Congress was forced to pause their proceedings. They sang the following words to the Star Spangled Banner:
"Oh why can't you see
It's my life that's at stake
When you sell out our world
You are stealing my future
Can you look in my eyes
As you gamble our lives
Wehn will you stop the lies
So that we can survive?
If you represent me
Not the fossil fuel industry
You must stop wasting time
Chasing your dollar signs
Oh, say will you listen to
Our generation
If you refuse to hear us now
Then we have to shut you down"
The activists are in Washington DC attending the Powershift climate conference. The group was comprised of a student group from Maine, a student group from California, and assisted by the Utah climate justice action group Peaceful Uprising founded by Tim DeChristopher.
They are participating in non-violent civil disobedience as a result of frustration that congress and the Obama administration are working counter to the needs of a livable future. To them, the unwillingness of our representatives to prevent the coming climate catastrophe is a war on the young.