Climate change activists shut down busy NYC highway during rush-hour

A climate change activists group on Monday morning blocked an extremely busy New York City highway during rush hour traffic.

According to the Washington Examiner, the group "Extinction Rebellion NYC" blocked off the highly-trafficked West Side Highway and FDR Drive.

"Dear commuters: we are interrupting traffic this morning not to annoy you, but to force the public to confront the true dangers of unchecked climate change," the group said in a Twitter post. "If we do not act today, if [President Joe Biden] does not act today, NYC will be underwater by 2100. It's a matter of life and death."

Dear commuters: we are interrupting traffic this morning not to annoy you, but to force the public to confront the true dangers of unchecked climate change. If we do not act today, if @potus does not act today, NYC will be underwater by 2100. It's a matter of life and death. pic.twitter.com/2gTTal0zgA

— Extinction Rebellion NYC 🌎 (@XR_NYC) October 25, 2021

The group's main point of contention centers around President Biden's Build Back Better plan not going far enough concerning the environment.

The group's protest wasn't well-received on social media, even among people who support climate change policy.

A local meteorologist recorded arguments between drivers and the protesters, including one where a mother was trying to explain that her straight-A daughter was going to be late for school, and she may get fired from work. However, the protesters did not budge.

One driver explaining that her 8-year old girl is a straight A student and missing school is going to hurt her -- they are "ruining it for her"

The mother is trying to get to work and worries about getting fired.

The climate activists don't care. pic.twitter.com/b8gN0K13jA

— Ryan (@RyanMaue) October 25, 2021

According to a statement from the group, NYC police officers arrested 33 protesters for blocking traffic.

The protest and subsequent traffic jam lasted nearly three hours.