Federal workers protest at Senate office building

Federal workers gathered Wednesday at the Hart Senate Office Building to protest the ongoing government shutdown, which has left hundreds of thousands of them without pay.

The workers held 33 minutes of silent protest, or one minute for each day the shutdown has lasted. 

Protesters shook their fists and chanted, “No more food banks. We need paychecks.”

They also held paper plates with messages written on them such as “open the government” and “federal workers are going hungry.” The plates were reportedly meant to symbolize that some workers can’t feed their families without pay.{mosads}

33 minutes of silence for 33 days of the government shutdown. Hundreds of federal workers and supporters gather at Hart Senate Office Building to protest. #OccupyHart @CNSmd pic.twitter.com/TkdPFtnm9b

— Julia Kim (@JuliaKimMedia) January 23, 2019

33 minutes of silent protest here in Hart Senate Office Building for each day of shutdown. Federal workers from various unions holding plates to show they need to feed their families. pic.twitter.com/oNtmwRtgAZ

— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) January 23, 2019

Furloughed federal workers stage lunch hour protest in Hart Senate Office Building. Shaking fists, they chant, “No more food banks. We need paychecks.” pic.twitter.com/mLmX0GG01g

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 23, 2019

Among the organizers of the union were the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a federal employee union, and the AFL-CIO, a federation of unions.

Following the silent protest, AFGE National President J. David Cox and other union leaders marched to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) office. 

Since @senatemajldr won’t talk to working people, we’re going to go talk to him. #OccupyHart #1u #StoptheShutdown pic.twitter.com/ZAjWWvY6tN

— AFGE (@AFGENational) January 23, 2019

The federal government has been in a partial shutdown since Dec. 22, with President Trump and Democrats at odds over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion in funding for a wall along the southern border.

Trump has refused to sign any bill to fund the government that doesn’t include wall funding, while Democrats have vowed not to approve funding for the wall.

The Senate is set to vote Thursday on two proposals to reopen the government, including one that would provide the wall funding.