The limited arrests after a mob stormed the Capitol has angered many Americans. Climate activists spoke with the New York Times about their frustration with the double standard of how their peaceful protests are treated, versus the violent mob that caused the insurrection on January 6.

Source: Democracy Now!/YouTube

The Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., a minister, and community activist and leader of Hip Hop Caucus, a civil and human rights group, told the Times, “There’s two worlds,” he said. “And we’ve got to fix that.” Yearwood spoke about the double standard between those fighting for Environmental justice and the Capitol mob. “Up until yesterday, I thought, ‘This is how it’s done. You stop business, you’re going to be arrested, you’re going to be treated this way,” he said.

Climate scientists and activists also noticed a stark difference in arrests. Jacquelyn Gill, a scientist at the University of Maine’s Climate change Institute, said on Twitter, “More people were arrested in the nonviolent 2018 Climate change protests at the Capitol than were arrested in the violent insurrection at the Capitol in 2021.”

More people were arrested in the non-violent 2018 Climate change protests at the Capitol than were arrested in the violent insurrection at the Capitol in 2021.

— Dr. Jacquelyn Gill (@JacquelynGill) January 7, 2021

Jane Fonda, the actress and activist that marched weekly between Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 as part of Fire Drill Fridays, to bring notice to Climate change, was arrested five times during that stint. Actors including Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen were also arrested during the peaceful protests. 600 arrests were made during those protests.

In past climate protests, especially those against the Dakota Access Pipeline, police arrived in riot gear, sprayed tear gas at peaceful protesters, and made numerous arrests.

Source: NBC News/YouTube

Many are also commenting on the huge difference in the police response towards the armed Capitol mob versus towards peaceful Black Lives Matter protestors.

Read more about the response to the mob storming the Capitol, including the numerous environmental groups that made statements.

Sign this petition to demand that everyone who took part in this riot is charged and indicted for their crimes

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