'Shut the country down': British climate group Extinction Rebellion heads to US

With dozens of events next week, many hope arrival of climate punks who've swept the UK will be a watershed moment

Bea Ruiz, a veteran progressive coordinator, has been telling scores of first-time climate change protesters they face being harassed and beaten by police next week. Most seem happy with the deal.

"I told a 72-year-old volunteer that he will probably be targeted by police," said Ruiz, who is based in Eureka, California and is helping organize the first US rollout of Extinction Rebellion, a group founded in the UK that has grabbed attention through disruptive protests leading to mass arrests.