Hundreds of youth activists sit at the DNC headquarters demanding 2020 debate on climate crisis

Hundreds of youth activists held a sit-in at the DNC headquarters yesterday demanding a climate change presidential debate be a top priority.

.@DNC: “We aren’t here because we had nothing to do today, we’re here because we’re afraid for our future. Show us you’re serious about our lives, show us you care about the American people, and just hold that #ClimateDebate it’s that simple.” —Destiney Lee pic.twitter.com/hdqyvFncTm

— Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@sunrisemvmt) June 25, 2019

This protest occurs right before the first Democratic primary debate is about to take place later today. The DNC has scheduled a dozen primary debates so far overall, but DNC chair Tom Perez announced there will not be a debate dedicated to the urgency and seriousness of the current climate crisis. 

“People everywhere are hurting from pollution and climate disasters, yet our political and media establishment routinely ignores these crises,” Destiney Lee, a 22-year-old Sunrise Movement activist said at the sit-in. 

Being that climate change has emerged as one of the main issues voters care about, even ahead of the 2020 election, it would be a smart move for the DNC to take these activists seriously.