--- title: Youth-led Sit-in Protests Senator Manchin for Supporting Trump’s Climate Denier Cabinet date: 2017-01-17T15:45:20Z modified: 2017-01-17T15:45:20Z permalink: "https://350action.org/press-release/youth-led-sit-in-protests-senator-manchin-for-supporting-trumps-climate-denier-cabinet/" type: press-release status: publish excerpt: "" wpid: 1189 author: dani --- _Washington, DC_ — Today, a group of 25 millennials held a sit-in at Senator Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) office, protesting his support for Trump’s climate denying cabinet nominees. Manchin is the only Democrat supporting climate denier Scott Pruitt for the EPA Administrator. He also recently [chastised](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-manchin-john-lewis-decision-to-skip-inauguration-is-uncalled-for/) fellow Democrat, Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, for declining to attend President-elect Trump’s upcoming inauguration. Protesters held banners reading “Manchin: Stand Up For People, Not Big Oil” and “Democrats: If You’re Not Climate Deniers, Don’t Vote Like Them.” “Manchin’s support for Scott Pruitt is a disgrace for the entire Democratic Party,” said **350 Action spokesperson Jason Kowalski**. “As Trump tries to fill his Cabinet with climate deniers and fossil fuel puppets, Democratic senators should be doing everything they can to reject these nominees, not helping Trump wreck the climate. Democrats should expect nothing but outrage from their constituents when they side with fossil fuel industry over the people.” “I’m fed up with Senator Manchin,” said **Sean Earley, from Parkersburg, West Virginia**. “He should stand up for the health and the welfare of the people of West Virginia. Scott Pruitt has sued the EPA over legislation that protects the groundwater, my drinking water. And I’m sick of hearing that my Senator is going to support a candidate who is poisoning me. Stand up for West Virginia.” Last week, people across the country rallied at U.S. Senators’ in-state offices for the [\#DayAgainstDenial](https://www.desmogblog.com/2017/01/10/dayagainstdenial-protests-across-u-s-call-attention-climate-change-trump-cabinet-confirmation-hearings-begin), calling for their elected officials to reject Trump’s climate denial cabinet. Two days later, [more than 200 people](http://mashable.com/2017/01/11/rex-tillerson-hearing-trex-protests/) protested outside the Senate confirmation hearing for recent former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, underscoring Exxon’s decades-long campaign to sow doubt about climate change. More actions targeting Trump’s cabinet are planned throughout the month. \### [Video here](https://www.facebook.com/timeforallofus/videos/1276144999144565/) **Contact:** Dani Heffernan, 350 Action, , +1 (305) 992-1544