Eight people were apprehended after trespassing during a climate change protest outside of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s home on Monday.
At around 11 a.m., a group of roughly 60-70 people arrived at the sidewalk near the Republican’s residence. Some made their way into Cruz’s private property despite “multiple warnings” and an “ample amount of opportunities” to leave the area, Assistant Chief Ban Tien of the Houston Police Department said. Officers reportedly spent “over an hour trying to negotiate” with the small group that disobeyed orders; however, the incident resulted in them behind bars.
“The large majority of the group [were] extremely peaceful [and] out there expressing their First Amendment rights [to] protest against climate change,” Tien said. “Unfortunately, there was a small group who [were] actually committing trespassing into private property in front of the senator’s residence.”
“The Houston Police Department support[s] First Amendment rights, support[s] public assembly, but it has to be done in a safe manner, and it has to be done within the confines and the scope of the laws,” he added.
Erin Douglas, a reporter for the Texas Tribune, photographed the scene and said the demonstrators were there to demand President Joe Biden to halt negotiations with GOP leaders and pass New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez‘s civilian climate corps plan, which aims to employ millions to battle wildfires and address other aspects of global warming.
The protest outside Cruz’s home was reportedly the last leg of a 40-day climate march that began in New Orleans, Douglas said.
About 50 @sunrisemvmt protesters outside of Ted Cruz Houston home today demanding Biden stop negotiations with the GOP and pass @AOC civilian climate corps plan. A few are on the lawn as the crowd sings “Whose side are you on?”
About a dozen police and security watching. pic.twitter.com/Iq6M5uCcC2
— Erin Douglas (@erinmdouglas23) June 21, 2021
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The Washington Examiner contacted Cruz’s office.
