Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Joins Sit-In in Pelosi Congressional Office

Protesters with the Sunrise Movement, a group that organizes youth around climate issues, were arrested by Capitol Police as they staged a sit-in at the office of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi in Washington DC on Tuesday, November 13.

Young protesters sang, delivered speeches, and exhorted Pelosi to take stronger stances on climate change issues. Freshman congresswoman and progressive star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a visit to support and address the activists during her orientation. Later, several activists were arrested by Capitol Police officers, who led them from the office in plastic handcuffs.

In response to the sit-in, Pelosi released a statement praising the “energy and activism” of those camped in her office and reiterating her pledge to reinstate a select committee to address climate change. The Sunrise Movement then released their own statement arguing that Pelosi’s proposed committee would be insufficient to address the threat of climate change. Credit: Sunrise Movement via Storyful