MSP: 27 people arrested from State House during climate change protest

BOSTON — Twenty-seven people were arrested on Friday at a climate change protest after refusing to leave the State House after the building officially closed at 5 p.m., according to Mass. State Police. Hundreds gathered at the Boston Common on Friday for the demonstration in favor of fighting climate change.

Out of the 27 arrested, 15 were women and 12 were men. Police say they will all be asked to appear in Boston Municipal Court next week.

"I don't want to get arrested, it's not a fun thing to do, but climate change is that important to me," said Owen Woodcock, a BU student who was among those arrested at Friday's protest.

Organized by the Massachusetts Climate Strike, the event encouraged people of all ages to skip school and work to make a point about what they are calling a climate emergency.

Climate change activists have long protested the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels, polluting waterways and oceans and the overall mechanisms blamed for the rise of global warming.

"Let's try to make a difference," the children could be heard chanting.

Activists were rallying for a Massachusetts Green New Deal and holding signs that said "Boston Climate Strike" and "Strike With Us." Other signs read "Protect Indigenous Land" and "Gen GND," which stands for Generation Green New Deal.

Some of the protesters told Boston 25 News that they wanted Governor Baker and House Speaker Robert Deleo to take action on environmental bills that are hung up at the State House.

"It was really hard and hurtful not to have our elected officials like Gov. Baker to engage with us at least in a dialogue," said Brian Stillwell.

Mass. State Police told Boston 25 News Friday afternoon that troopers are on scene at the State House. They say while most of them were outside, some protestors were inside the building.

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