Who says you can’t party and protest at the same time?
This week saw the UN Climate Summit 2019 happening over in New York City. While politicians discussed the topic, many protesters marched across the globe while holding signs and chanting for change. But one group was out twerking as well.
US Dance troupe WERK for Peace showed up in Washington D.C. to twerk their way across protest lines.
Out here shutting down DC for climate justice. STOP PIPELINES NOW! KEEP IT IN THE GROUND! #ShutdownDC @350_DC @sunrisemvmt @GretaThunberg @mdc_dsa pic.twitter.com/QntcNH6QO5
— WERK for Peace (@werkforpeace) September 23, 2019
Ok, so the @XRebelDC #ShutDownDC event just concluded, and no arrests.
The event ended with a @werkforpeace dance party. One highlight was twerking and dancing to a song whose main chorus began with "F*ck Donald Trump, B*tch!" pic.twitter.com/BAnrC2Jwn9
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) September 27, 2019
We deserve clean air and water. That’s why we are shaking off the toxic. #ShutDownDC #WERKforMotherEarth @britneyspears pic.twitter.com/Dq0SJGnLn2
— WERK for Peace (@werkforpeace) September 27, 2019
#ShutDownDC is a rolling blockade/dance party. I love it. Conversations about the climate crisis are so often fear & dread (as they should be) — but that doesn't mean there can't be joy in the fight. We're demanding the just world we need, and we're going to dance while we do it. pic.twitter.com/18zn8baNRF
— Devyn Powell (@DevynFromOregon) September 23, 2019
¡Dáme *menos* gasolina! #ShutdownDC #ClimateJustice #WERKforMotherEarth @daddy_yankee @350_DC pic.twitter.com/PxZKkazmPs
— WERK for Peace (@werkforpeace) September 27, 2019
This isn’t the first time that the group has done this. The group was created as a response to the Orlando nightclub shootings in 2016. Since then, they have appeared at several different protests and movements from a variety of topics like gun control and climate change. They were also at the head of the dance parties held at Mike Pence’s homes after he was elected into the Vice Presidency.
As the organization’s website explains:
“Founded in response to the Pulse Nightclub shooting, WERK for Peace is a queer and trans grassroots movement that uses all forms of dance to promote peace. We bring the dance floor to the streets to occupy space and use our bodies to WERK for social justice. Our dance protests have taken it to the houses of Mike Pence, Ivanka Trump, and others to demand change around issues pertinent to the queer and trans experience. We’ve gone viral several times doing so.”
Since the 2016 shooting, the dance and protest group, which started with 49 individuals and has now included thousands of participants, has held 12 dance protests and been mentioned in 200+ press sources. While some may balk at the level of seriousness presented by the dancing, the organization is adamant in their desire to incite change by dancing and bringing attention to issues through said dancing.
And that can be seen in just this very post. In what could have been a simple “People twerking in streets. Look at the video” article ended up becoming more because of the sincere meaning behind the dancing. And honestly, we hope to see WERK for Peace pop up again sometime soon with even more people dancing behind them.
Throwing litter on the ground is a real good look for an environmental protest 🙄