Breaking: Greenpeace Executive Director Arrested In D.C. During Non-Violent Protest

Credit: Greenpeace
Credit: Greenpeace

Washington, D.C. and the entire nation have been met with a large influx of protestors who are in support of a movement called Democracy Spring and Democracy Awakening in the past few weeks. Several directors of high-profile organizations, such as Greenpeace and the NAACP,  were keynote speakers on Sunday for a rally where they called for reform for money in politics, the protection of voting rights, and filling the Supreme Court vacancy.

Many of these inspiring leaders are participating in a non-violent direct protest on Monday and several leaders, including Greenpeace USA Executive Director, have already been arrested.

Greenpeace’s USA Executive Director, Annie Leonard, was among 60 leaders involved in the “non-violent direct protest” on Monday. These leaders joined thousands of other activists in demanding that the current system of “democracy” be made to work for everyone, not just corporations and the wealthy.

Other high-profile leaders that are participating in the protest include Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, radio commentator Jim Hightower, and Reverend Doctor William Barber II, a pastor and the architect for Moral Monday.

Of these leaders, Annie Leonard from Greenpeace, Reverend Doctor William Barber II, and President Cornell W. Brooks from the NAACP have already been arrested.

Before the protest, Leonard said,

“I’m willing to risk arrest, arm in arm with partners from the civil rights and the labor movements, in order to help fix our democracy. We will never get the kind of political progress needed to challenge climate change and systemic racism if corporate cash continues to mean more to politicians than the voices of the people.”

Credit: Greenpeace
Credit: Greenpeace

The movement is focused on regaining a sense of actual democracy in the U.S. by combating attacks on voters’ rights, which is something that has increased with the recent elections, and eliminating the ability for big money to buy elections and government leaders. The main idea is that there will be no true or fair justice for labor, peace, environmental, student, racial justice, civil rights and money in politics issues until we are living in a truly democratic society.

The mobilization began with a 140-mile march from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., where thousands gathered in support of the movement. The march was proceeded by more marches, film screenings, sit-ins, teach-ins, protests, and rallies. All of the events will conclude with Monday’s non-violent protest.

Over 300 organizations have endorsed the landmark mobilization.

On Sunday, dozens of leaders and activists spoke at a rally demanding these major changes. One such leader was Annie Leonard from Greenpeace USA, who said,

“A functional democracy is a precondition for a healthy environment, economy and society. The daily protests may slow after the Democracy Spring and the Democracy Awakening, but the movement will continue to grow. The people have made it too big and too strong to ignore.”

Do you believe that the movement could grow in the coming months and years with the disillusionment of U.S. democracy? Please comment on, like, and share this article!

(Source: Cassady Sharp, Greenpeace USA)


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