WASHINGTON — Hundreds of activists a part of several demonstration groups are blocking roads around the U.S. Capitol Tuesday morning ahead of a rally calling on the Senate to pass the Build Back Better bill before the holidays.
Protesters with CodePink, Arm in Arm Washington DC, Action Rebellion DC, ShutDownDC and other activist groups have joined forces and want Congress to take full action on the Build Back Better plan which includes health care, climate changes, immigration and voting rights reforms.
According to organizers, they are calling for jobs, access to child care and universal pre-K, paid family leave, citizenship, green infrastructure, Healthcare for all and affordable housing.
Activists are calling the event a "Deadline for Democracy."
As of 8 a.m., WUSA9 was at the scene where demonstrations appeared to be blocking 4th and Independence Street with a tank in the area.
A group was also seen marching westbound at 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast and headed down westbound towards 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Starting around 11 a.m, some groups plan to march from Union Station to Taft Memorial Park through Louisiana Avenue for the rally. Around noon, activists plan to rally at the U.S. Capitol.
The demonstrations have led U.S. Capitol Police to shut down several streets Tuesday morning in the District. Below are the streets that remain closed:
- 4th Street at Independence Avenue, Southwest
- 4th Street at Massachusetts Avenue, Northeast