More than two dozen protesters crowded into Sen. Joe Manchin’s tiny front office Tuesday afternoon to protest his support for Scott Pruitt, President-elect Trump’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency. They were young, passionate and apparently in a hurry.
The environmental troupe from 350.org brought signs, made speeches, and posed for photos. But then they just left. “We tried to buy them doughnuts,” Manchin’s puzzled spokesman Jonathan Kott said, “but they didn’t stick around long enough.”
All told, they were in and out within an hour — or at least that’s when they stopped live tweeting.
It’s just the latest example of sloppy and unprofessional protesting, more evidence that the next generation needs to up their game if they want to stick it to the man. Their next chance comes this Friday when Trump takes the Oath of Office.
Already thousands of activists are pouring into the nation’s capital to protest the president-elect. There should be a wide selection of talent. So far, anti-capitalist, pro-woman, and anarchist protestors have reserved space with the National Park Service. Not satisfied to protest peacefully, the group #DisruptJ20 plans to shut down entrances into and out of D.C.
While earlier activists have interrupted almost every Trump nominee’s confirmation hearing, the protest has been more annoying than meaningful. And the group that protested Manchin didn’t really improve on that trend.
Strategically, the protestors’ plan was airtight. Manchin’s a prime target as the only Democrat who has pledged his support to Pruitt. Their message is clear and signs, consistent. The two unfurled banners read: “If you’re not a climate denier, don’t vote like one” and “stand up for people, not big oil.” Clearly internet savvy, the group even had the requisite hashtags like #RejectRex and #StopPruitt.
But all was for naught. The group bailed after less than an hour. Normally, where there’s real political conviction, there’s a way. Turns out Trump protestors are a far cry from the activists of their parents’ generation.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
