Dozens of left-wing activists from the Sunrise Movement were arrested Thursday after staging a sit-in inside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s personal office in the Hart Senate Office Building, chanting “Schumer has got to go!” and demanding he either end the filibuster or step aside.
Capitol Police confirmed 54 arrests on charges of crowding, obstructing, and incommoding, as hundreds more demonstrators from across the country delivered letters to every Democrat senator’s office.
Photos and videos posted by the group showed protesters sitting on the floor of Schumer’s office in Green New Deal shirts, holding signs that read “The filibuster kills,” “Stop the climate crisis,” and “Schumer: Step up or step aside.”
Today, 50+ young people were arrested in Chuck Schumer’s office demanding an end to the filibuster and new Senate leadership.
Tonight, Van Hollen announced his run. Momentum is building. https://t.co/EJU6nrqZbO
— Sunrise Movement
(@sunrisemvmt) November 13, 2026
WATCH:
BREAKING: Young people are blockading Chuck Schumer’s office to demand that he STEP UP and pledge to abolish the filibuster or STEP ASIDE as Senate Majority Leader in favor of Senator Chris Van Hollen. https://t.co/H0c9vIKwc8
— Sunrise Movement
BREAKING: 50+ young people have been arrested for blockading Chuck Schumer’s office to demand that he STEP UP and pledge to abolish the filibuster or STEP ASIDE as Senate Majority Leader in favor of Senator Chris Van Hollen. https://t.co/kHt7MQ4uV2
— Sunrise Movement
Sunrise said the action was part of a broader push for new Senate leadership and the abolition of the filibuster when Democrats take control of the chamber in January.
The group is fundraising to cover bail and legal fees for those arrested.
The protest comes as Schumer faces open skepticism from within his own party over remaining Democrat leader.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland told CNN’s Manu Raju he is still “actively listening” to colleagues about a potential challenge and has already spoken with Schumer.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen told me he is still ‘actively listening’ to members about running against Chuck Schumer for Dem leader.
I asked him about Schumer’s role in the Dems’ huge midterm victory.
Van Hollen said it is not about individuals, but rather “a demand in the country for change and bold leadership.”
“We need to talk to my colleagues about what they think the best path forward would be,” he said.
Asked if he had spoken to Schumer, Van Hollen responded, “He and I have had a conversation.”
He said “stay tuned” when asked when he would announce his plans
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 12, 2026
Van Hollen framed the discussion as a broader demand for change and bold leadership rather than a challenge to any individual, adding that he would announce his plans soon and urging colleagues to weigh the best path forward.
Senators Bernie Sanders and Elissa Slotkin both publicly declined to back Schumer this week.
Sanders said at a news conference that while he has known Schumer for over 30 years and likes him, it is time for change, and he will not support Schumer’s reelection as Democrat leader.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Bernie Sanders and Elissa Slotkin say they won’t back Chuck Schumer as Senate Democratic leader.
Sanders: “The time is now for change, and I will not be supporting Chuck.”
One week into their “big win” and they’re already eating their own.
C-SPAN https://t.co/5maVZli2b7
— Patriot (@_Patriot1776Q_) November 10, 2026
Slotkin said she is a “no” until she sees a concrete plan that is definitively different, and she suggested peers withhold quorum until such a plan is presented.
Schumer has said he is confident he still has the votes.
WATCH:
REPORTER: “Senator Sanders just held a press conference where he said he cannot support you for leader. Senator Slotkin was with him…how do you respond to that?”
SCHUMER: “I’m confident I will be elected Majority Leader, and our caucus is really united…” https://t.co/niQPutpf04
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 10, 2026
Several newly elected Democrat senators have also declined to endorse Schumer.
The post Schumer’s Own Party Turns on Him: 54 Leftist Activists Arrested in His Office as Van Hollen, Sanders and Slotkin Refuse to Back Him (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.