Climate protesters arrested in vice presidential candidate JD Vance’s office

U.S. Capitol Police issue a third warning to members of the Sunrise Movement, a political action organization that advocates for action on climate change, to disperse from outside the office of Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, on Monday, July 29, 2024.

At least eight protesters were arrested on Monday during a climate demonstration outside the office of vice presidential candidate Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio).

Before the arrests, several dozen Sunrise Movement protesters gathered outside Vance’s office and sang and chanted in protest, including the slogan “Vance is a liar, our planet is on fire.”

The progressive climate group said nine people were arrested, while Capitol Police put the number at eight.

Police attempted to disperse protesters Monday morning, but some of them refused to move away from Vance’s office. One officer asked, “Do you want to be arrested?” before more police tied the protesters’ hands behind their backs with zip ties. Officers also chased reporters away from the area.

Capitol Police spokeswoman Brianna Burch said the arrests were made for violations of the law against demonstrations in congressional office buildings.

Vance, a Republican from Ohio, was announced as Donald Trump’s vice presidential candidate earlier this month.

The arrested protesters were among dozens who joined the Sunrise demonstration.

“JD Vance claims he’s fighting for working people, but in reality he’s willing to sell himself for a few hundred thousand dollars,” said Aru Shiney-Ajay, executive director of the Sunrise Movement. “We’re trying to expose the hypocrisy and corruption he represents and break the narrative that he’s for the Midwest or Appalachia.”

“He is pushing policies that will cause floods, heatwaves and price increases. He is preventing the creation of good, green jobs,” Shiney-Ajay added.

The Hill has reached out to Vance’s office for comment.