An LGBTQ dance group literally stopped traffic at the “Shut Down D.C.” protest, a climate change protest in Washington, D.C. on September 23 Monday morning.
The “Shut Down D.C.” protest, which was scheduled to coincide with the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, It happened on Monday morning rush hour. They were drawing attention to the issue of climate change by temporarily blocking traffic, and sitting on streets. They were joined by the around 150 LGBTQ+ dance group ‘WERK for Peace’ a group who uses dance to promote peace, Under a banner with the headline “End pipelines now”.
LGBTQ+ activists brought the dance party to the streets of the D.C. on Monday, when they joined environmental activist groups in a protest to pressure lawmakers to act on climate change.
Firas Nasr, one of the founders of ‘WERK for Peace’ showed off his twerking abilities while being coated in glitter, in front of a cheering crowd.
Out here shutting down DC for climate justice. STOP PIPELINES NOW! KEEP IT IN THE GROUND! #ShutdownDC @350_DC @sunrisemvmt @GretaThunberg @mdc_dsa pic.twitter.com/QntcNH6QO5
— WERK for Peace (@werkforpeace) September 23, 2019
Nasr, told the The Washington Blade that members of his group engaged in a “roving dance party” by dancing to loud music blasting from sound speakers that were carried on a wagon pulled by someone riding a bicycle.
Nasr, told the paper “We know that climate justice affects marginalised communities around the world.”
“At the front of those marginalised communities are queer and trans people who are disproportionately affected by the climate catastrophes just as people of colour and disabled folks and indigenous folks, undocumented folks are also disproportionately affected.”
“Many of those people are also queer and trans, and we wanted to stand in solidarity with everyone who is working on this issue and also show the world that queer and trans people are here to fight for our climate and for our mother earth.”said Nasr.
‘Werk for Peace’ which was formed In response to the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Their website explains : Founded in response to the 2016 pulse nightclub shooting, WERK for Peace brings the dance floor to the streets to protest egregious social injustices.
‘WERK for Peace’ is a queer and trans grassroots movement that uses all forms of dance to promote peace. We bring the dance floor to the streets to occupy space and use our bodies to WERK for social justice.
“Our protests are like no other – hip-shaking, fist-pumping, ass-twerking, head-thumping dancing! But lets get real, we don’t just dance – we WERK.
Their website adds “We’ve protested around a number of intersectional issues, including the Muslim ban, climate justice, healthcare, sexual violence and consent, and more, covering the streets with biodegradable confetti and letting the world know that #WeAreHere and #WeWillDance.”
The group has taken dance protests to the houses of Mike Pence, Ivanka Trump, and others to demand change around issues pertinent to the queer and trans experience. and has also twerked to oppose Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies.
