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Climate Change

Climate change activists 'shut down D.C.' and disrupt morning commutes at busy intersections

WASHINGTON – Activists calling for action on climate change disrupted morning commutes across Washington, D.C., on Monday morning, just days after hundreds of thousands demonstrated alongside school children for Global Climate Strike rallies.

Shut Down D.C. aimed to "disrupt the systems that created and perpetuate the climate crisis" and block key intersections across the city to disrupt traffic.

At least 26 people were arrested as major intersections like K and 16th Streets Northwest and New York Avenue at Florida Avenue Northeast and at North Capitol Street had been blocked by the protests, Metropolitan Police Department said.

The protests continued into midmorning, and many of the blockades had cleared before noon, police said.

Videos posted on social media showed demonstrators waving flags and tied to cars donned with banners that had messages like "ROAD CLOSED CLIMATE EMERGENCY" in the middle of major intersections. Photos showed a boat in the middle of one intersection.

D.C.'s bus system also reported delays due to the protests.

The group said on its website that demonstrators would meet early Monday at four locations across the city, which are near high-volume intersections, busy metro lines and Union Station.

The group also had planned to gather near the White House, Capitol Hill and ICE headquarters, the Washingtonian previously reported.

It was unclear the total extent of the disruption the blockades caused.

'Our house is on fire':Global Climate Strike draws out hundreds of thousands of protesters in New York, DC

"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, though it wasn't clear if any rail lines were affected.

"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.

Record-breaking strike:Friday's global strike was likely the largest climate rally ever

"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."

The protest also comes the same day as the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, where world leaders plan to meet to discuss "concrete, realistic plans" on addressing climate change.

President Donald Trump, who wants to pull the United States out of the ratified 2015 Paris agreement to cut emissions, made an unexpected stop at the summit, even though aides signaled for weeks that the president would not attend.

Contributing: Bart Jansen, Janet Wilson, John Fritze and Courtney Subramanian, USA TODAY. Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller

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