December, 03 2021, 04:24pm EDT
Sunrise Confronts Joe Manchin at House Yacht, Demanding Immediate Passage of Reconciliation Package
WASHINGTON
This morning, Sunrise activists confronted Senator Joe Manchin at his yacht, facing nearly a dozen police, as they demanded he end his obstruction and immediately pass Build Back Better. Joe Manchin ignored and diminished the activists, asking them if they were paid to be there, with one volunteer responding with, "Sir, I'm here for free, you're the one being paid."
"As people are struggling to survive, experiencing another deadly COVID variant and a never ending climate crisis, Joe Manchin is single handedly preventing a life saving, historic climate and social package from passing," said Varshini Prakash, Executive Director of Sunrise Movement. "Joe Manchin and Senate Democrats need to get their shit together, and pass Build Back Better immediately--before they lose a trifecta--or more lives will be lost to the climate crisis."
"The public benches across from Manchin's yacht are sometimes so flooded from climate inaction you can't see them. While everyday people can't walk on the submerged public sidewalk, Manchin's luxury yacht floats higher. Manchin's neighborhood will eventually be underwater, and while he can park his yacht someplace else, his neighbors will lose everything," said Kidus Girma, a Sunrise activist and former climate hunger striker. "Senator Manchin is choosing to flood millions of homes and burn down thousands of communities so he can cash another check. We're here today, at his yacht, letting the American people know that Manchin--a yacht owning coal baron, is the one preventing life saving relief from being delivered to communities across the country."
This confrontation comes as the Senate continues negotiations over the House passed reconciliation package, with reports saying Manchin doesn't believe the package will be passed this year. Manchin has previously stated that he wants to cut climate, paid family leave and other popular provisions in the bill.
Through heightened protests over the past few months and a two week hunger strike, Sunrise and climate activists have kept the pressure up on Democrats, demanding that Biden and Congress pass the reconciliation package. This has already resulted in climate being cut the least from BBB.
Sunrise Movement is a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.
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