Climate activists block grocery store with shopping carts as families try to buy food

Angry shoppers faced a wall of shopping carts blocking every entrance to their local grocery store this morning.

Protesters Create Chaos at Peak Shopping Hours
The scene unfolded at 9 AM when members of Climate Action Now formed barricades using over 50 shopping carts at the Main Street Market in downtown Portland.
Local mom Sarah Jenkins had driven 20 minutes with her three young children to do her weekly shopping.
"My kids were hungry and crying. We just wanted to buy groceries. I don't understand how blocking regular families helps their cause," Jenkins said.

Police Called as Tensions Rise
Store manager Dave Wilson tried reasoning with the protesters for nearly an hour.
"We actually have one of the best sustainability programs in the state," Wilson explained. "We source local produce and use renewable energy."
But the activists wouldn't budge. They demanded the store chain commit to zero emissions by 2025.
Shoppers Find Creative Solutions
As the standoff continued, community members started helping each other.
Regular customers formed human chains to pass groceries over the cart barriers to elderly shoppers who couldn't reach other stores.

The Breaking Point
After three hours of disruption, local police finally arrived to clear the scene.
Officers gave protesters a choice: Leave voluntarily or face trespassing charges.
The breakthrough came when store manager Wilson agreed to meet with protest leaders next week to discuss environmental initiatives.
The Aftermath
The protest ended at 12:30 PM when activists dismantled their cart barriers.
Store employees spent another hour returning carts and helping delayed shoppers.
The incident sparked heated debate on social media about protest tactics. Many supporters of climate action criticized the group's decision to target everyday families rather than corporate offices.
Main Street Market reported losing thousands in sales during the three-hour shutdown. They've since announced plans to increase security and limit the number of available shopping carts.
Local police confirmed no arrests were made, but warned future protesters that blocking access to essential services could result in criminal charges.