With the United Nations climate talks in Paris underway, hundreds of climate change protesters stormed the Australian Parliament House on Wednesday to demand the country's leaders "put people before polluters."
Climate group 350 Australia, which said 300 people took part in the "People's Parliament" action in the foyer of the building, described it as "A powerful demonstration of people power."
In a statement on the People's Parliament website, organizers explain that action in Canberra was undertaken because "Australia’s politicians are putting the big polluters ahead of the people that they were elected to represent. They are prioritizing dirty coal and gas ahead of healthy communities and a safe climate."
"From farmers, parents and workers, to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and young people, together we are stepping up to demand that our politicians keep fossil fuels in the ground so that we can have a liveable future," the statement reads.
"The People’s Parliament is just the beginning," it adds, as protesters will stage similar actions "until our politicians do what is right."
According to media reports, security officers dragged the protesters out of the building after roughly half an hour.
Several Green MPs joined the protest, including Greens leader Richard Di Natale, who said the demonstration was "inspirational." He said that he "will be taking these voices to Paris next week to tell the world that Australia wants action on climate change and they want it now."
350 Australia has video of the event here. Twitter users captured the event using the hashtag #PeoplesParliament:
