Climate protesters arrested outside Vance’s office

Eight protesters were arrested Monday during a climate protest outside of vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance’s (R-Ohio) office.

Prior to the arrests, several dozen Sunrise Movement protesters gathered in front of Vance’s office singing and chanting in protest, including a chant of, “Vance is a liar, our planet is on fire.”

Police attempted to clear the protesters Monday morning, but a few of them would not move from outside Vance’s office. An officer asked, “Want to be arrested?” before additional law enforcement tied the protesters’ hands behind their backs with zip ties. Officers also shooed reporters from the area. 

Capitol Police spokesperson Brianna Burch said the eight arrests were for violating laws against demonstrating inside Congressional office buildings.

Vance was announced earlier this month as former President Trump’s running mate.

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

“JD Vance claims to be fighting for working people, but the reality is that he’s willing to sell out for a couple hundred thousand dollars,” said Aru Shiney-Ajay, the Sunrise Movement’s executive director. ”We’re trying to expose the hypocrisy and the corruption that he stands for and cut through the narrative that he’s for the Midwest or for Appalachia.”

“He’s pushing policies that will cause flooding, heatwaves, price increases. He’s taking away good, green job creation,” Shiney-Ajay added. 

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