Kamala Harris' Promises 'Bold Action' on Climate After Home Targeted by Protesters
Vice President Kamala Harris has vowed to take significant action on climate change following a demonstration outside her Los Angeles home.
On Monday, shortly after youth activists from the Sunrise Movement staged a protest outside Harris' Brentwood residence—bringing a burnt couch and ash from nearby wildfires to symbolize the devastation caused by climate change—Harris responded on Twitter .
"Our young leaders have grown up knowing only the climate crisis. They understand what's at stake for their future. As president, I will confront the climate crisis with bold action, building a clean energy economy, advancing environmental justice, and increasing resilience to climate disasters," Harris posted on X.
The protest, made up of a group of 25 people, aimed to push the vice president to present a climate plan addressing the ongoing wildfire crisis and broader impacts of climate change, particularly in Southern California.
One of the protesters, Corina McDonald, 24, whose home was nearly destroyed in the Bridge Fire, urged Harris to meet directly with residents and commit to a concrete plan.
"Kamala Harris must visit our neighborhoods to convince us that she cares," McDonald said. "She needs to meet us face-to-face and announce a clear plan to prevent climate destruction while creating good jobs and transitioning the country to 100% renewable energy."
John-Henry, 27, another protester, voiced the frustration of many in his generation, saying, "Fossil fuel executives are burning our homes while making billions of dollars. Our next president needs to act boldly, or millions of lives will be threatened."
He added that despite Harris' political record, the Democrat has not yet delivered a robust plan to combat climate change . "Kamala Harris, what's your plan?" he asked.
Two protesters were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department during the demonstration.
Harris has long been vocal about her support for environmental policies, dating back to her time as California's attorney general when she prosecuted major polluters and took on oil and gas companies over environmental violations.
As vice president, she played a decisive role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the most significant clean energy investment in American history. The IRA has allocated nearly $346 billion toward climate solutions and resilience, creating 330,000 jobs across nearly every state, lowering household energy costs, and spurring a manufacturing boom in the process. Early in his presidency, President Joe Biden also restored U.S. participation in the Paris Agreement.
However, many environmentalists remain unconvinced that she will take the bold steps needed to address the climate crisis.
Although the Sunrise Movement has yet to officially endorse a candidate, the organization has announced plans to engage 1.5 million young voters, focusing on pushing Harris toward more substantial climate commitments.
The demonstration in Los Angeles is part of a broader movement urging politicians to take more aggressive climate action. Another protest took place earlier that same morning outside former President Donald Trump 's campaign office in Phoenix, Arizona.
Meanwhile, New York will become the center of global climate action this week, as Climate Week NYC draws thousands of business, government, and citizen leaders together for over 900 climate-related events throughout the city.
Newsweek is a media partner for Climate Week NYC this year and will host an event focusing on business efforts to rein in emissions along their supply chains.
