Police arrested multiple climate change activists Monday in New York City ahead of President Joe Biden’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, according to organizers of the demonstration.
Multiple protesters stood on a platform outside the venue of the “Broadway for Biden” fundraiser while holding a poster before officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) attempted to break up the demonstration, according to video posted to Twitter by Climate Defiance.
“This is beyond fucked. NYPD brutally arrested 3 of our friends, peaceful climate protesters, outside the ‘Broadway for Biden’ fundraiser In Times Square,” Climate Defiance wrote in the video post. “Watch till the end to see our friends’ ‘offenses.’ This is what it’s come to.” (RELATED: Reaching Aggressive 2050 Climate Targets Could Cost Nearly $75 Trillion, Analysis Finds)
This is beyond fucked. NYPD brutally arrested 3 of our friends, peaceful climate protestors, outside the “Broadway for Biden” fundraiser in Times Square. Watch to the end to see our friends’ “offense.” This is what it’s come to. pic.twitter.com/d8HrIOtd2L
— Climate Defiance (@ClimateDefiance) September 19, 2023
Another climate change protest occurred Monday on Wall Street, where 114 demonstrators were arrested and taken into custody, according to ABC 7 New York. They first arrived at Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, later marching to various targeted locations, like the New York Stock Exchange, where many were stopped by police.
Most protesters, who were demanding the cessation of funding fossil fuels, were charged with civil disobedience. Despite the arrests, the group plans to petition again at the Bank of America Tower in Bryant Park on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., the outlet reported. The bank is the third or fourth largest financier of fossil fuels, critics claim.
Biden traveled to New York City earlier in the week for the United Nations General Assembly.